Dhaka topped the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality Friday morning, with an AQI score of 279 at 10am on Sunday.
The air in Dhaka was categorized as 'hazardous', posing significant health risks to residents, according to the air quality index.
Sarajevo in Bosnia Herzegovina, Delhi, and Kolkata in India secured the first three positions on the list, with AQI scores of 263, 261, and 237, respectively.
An AQI between 101 and 150 is considered 'unhealthy' for sensitive groups, while an AQI between 150 and 200 is labeled 'unhealthy', and an AQI between 201 and 300 is deemed 'very unhealthy'. A reading of 301+ is considered 'hazardous', indicating serious health risks to residents.
In Bangladesh, the AQI is determined based on five criteria pollutants: Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and Ozone.
Dhaka has been grappling with air pollution issues for an extended period. Typically, its air quality worsens in winter and improves during the monsoon.
Air pollution consistently ranks among the leading risk factors for death and disability worldwide.
According to World Health Organization (WHO) data, air pollution is responsible for an estimated seven million deaths worldwide every year.
