Once again, Dhaka has claimed the undesirable distinction of having the worst air quality among cities worldwide. At 9:15 am this morning, the city recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 296, categorizing its air as ‘very unhealthy,’ as reported by the air quality index.
Following closely, India’s Delhi secured the second position with an AQI score of 289, while Pakistan’s Lahore and Karachi ranked third and fourth with scores of 205 and 196, respectively.
The AQI values offer a scale for assessing air quality, where a score between 101 and 150 denotes air quality as ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups.’ Readings between 150 and 200 are categorized as ‘unhealthy,’ while the range of 201 to 300 falls under the label of ‘very unhealthy.’ A concerning reading of 301 and above is considered ‘hazardous,’ signifying severe health risks for residents.
Dhaka’s recurrent presence at the top of this global list underscores the critical need for concerted efforts to address and mitigate the factors contributing to the city’s consistently poor air quality.
