Dhaka, the overcrowded capital city of Bangladesh, has ranked 13th on the list of cities with the worst air quality with an AQI score of 88 at 09:15am on Wednesday (July 30) morning.

At 9:15am, the city recorded an AQI score of 88, falling into the "moderate" category — indicating a light health threat, particularly for sensitive individuals.

The AQI score between 51 and 100 is considered "moderate," while values between 101 and 150 are labeled "unhealthy for sensitive groups." Higher scores indicate worsening air quality, with 301 and above considered "hazardous."

This level of air quality has persisted in Dhaka over the past few days. The city’s air typically worsens during winter due to dust, smoke, and stagnant air but sees improvement in the monsoon season.

Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo topped Wednesday’s list with an AQI of 193, followed by Riyadh (158) and Dubai (157).

Bangladesh’s AQI is measured using five key pollutants: particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), and ozone.

Air pollution remains a persistent challenge for Dhaka. 

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution contributes to approximately seven million deaths globally each year due to illnesses such as stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, and respiratory infections.

The AQI serves as an important tool for informing the public about air quality and the associated health risks.

MN/