Dhaka breathing in 'hazardous' air today

Dhaka's air quality does not see any improvement in the second month of 2024. As per the IQair website, the capital's air quality was classified as "hazardous" on Sunday morning. With an air quality index (AQI) score of 412 at 9am, Dhaka has the 2nd worst air quality in the world.

The first and third places were occupied by Ghana's Accra and Pakistan's Karachi, with AQI scores of 418 and 185, respectively.

'Good' AQI is between 0 and 50, where air quality is considered satisfactory, and air pollution poses little or no risk.

The AQI between 51 and 100 is termed 'moderate.' Pollution in this range may pose a moderate health concern for a very small number of individuals. People who are unusually sensitive to ozone or particle pollution may experience respiratory symptoms.

An AQI between 101 and 200 is considered unhealthy for sensitive groups. Meanwhile, an AQI between 151 and 200 is said to be ‘unhealthy’ while a range between 201 and 300 is considered ‘very unhealthy.’

The range between 301 to 400 is ranked 'hazardous', posing serious health risks to residents.

In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five criteria pollutants – Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2 and Ozone.

Air pollution has always been a problem in Dhaka. Winter is often when the air quality deteriorates, and monsoon season is when it gets better.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people per year throughout the world, primarily due to an increase in fatalities from heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and acute respiratory infections.

/KN/