Dhaka, the overcrowded capital of Bangladesh, ranked seventh on the list of cities with the worst air quality, recording an AQI score of 187 at 11 am on Tuesday, classifying the air as 'unhealthy.

The AQI index indicated health risks for residents.

On Monday, Dhaka's air quality was even worse, with an AQI score of 392, deemed "hazardous." 

According to the AQI scale, scores between 150 and 200 are "unhealthy," and levels above 300 are considered "hazardous," posing serious health risks.

India's Delhi, Pakistan's Lahore, and Vietnam's Hanoi topped the list with AQI scores of 326, 254, and 234, respectively.

Dhaka faces air pollution, which gets worse in winter and improves during the monsoon.

The AQI is based on five pollutants, including particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and ozone. 

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that air pollution causes seven million deaths annually worldwide.

BDST: 1324 HRS, FEB 11, 2024
MN