Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh, experienced a temporary relief from its persistent air pollution issues this morning, Thursday (18 May) thanks to rainfall.
With an air quality index (AQI) score of 76 at 9 am, Dhaka’s air quality was classified as “moderate.” This improvement placed Dhaka at the 26th spot on the list of cities with the worst air quality around the world.
The AQI scale categorizes air quality as “good” between 0 and 50, and “moderate” between 50 and 100. To put things into perspective, other cities like Hanoi in Vietnam, Jakarta in Indonesia, and Riyadh in Saudi Arabia ranked at the top of the list, with AQI scores of 141, 140, and 126, respectively.
However, it’s important to note that an AQI between 101 and 200 is considered “unhealthy,” particularly for sensitive groups, while a range of 201 to 300 is classified as “poor.” Beyond that, a reading of 301 to 400 is deemed “hazardous,” posing significant health risks to residents.
The AQI serves as an index for reporting daily air quality and is utilized by government agencies to inform the public about the safety or pollution levels in a particular city. It also helps raise awareness about potential health effects associated with air pollution.
Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution problems, often experiencing a decline in air quality during the winter months and an improvement during the monsoon season. Unfortunately, air pollution consistently ranks as one of the top risk factors for death and disability worldwide, highlighting the urgent need for sustainable solutions to combat this issue.
Overall, while the rain brought a temporary respite and marked Dhaka’s air quality as “moderate” this morning, it remains crucial for authorities and communities to work together in finding long-term strategies to address the ongoing air pollution challenges in the city.
