Dhaka Tops Global Pollution Rankings with Alarming Air Quality Levels
Dhaka's Pollution Crisis
Representational Image
Dhaka, Oct 6: On Tuesday, Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, was reported as the most polluted city globally, registering an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 213 at 11:10 a.m. local time, according to local news sources.
The AQI reading categorizes the air quality in Dhaka as "very unhealthy," which signals a significant health risk where individuals may face adverse health effects, as reported by United News of Bangladesh (UNB).
Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia followed closely in the rankings, coming in second with an AQI of 208, while Singapore secured the third position with an AQI of 179.
According to AQI classifications, values exceeding 301 are deemed 'hazardous'; those between 201-300 are labeled 'very unhealthy'; readings from 151-200 are considered 'unhealthy'; and scores from 101-150 are categorized as 'unhealthy for sensitive groups.'
Dhaka has long struggled with air pollution, with conditions typically worsening in winter and improving during the monsoon, as noted by UNB.
The AQI is determined based on five key pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and ozone.
The World Health Organization (WHO) attributes approximately seven million deaths annually to air pollution worldwide, primarily due to heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.
WHO statistics reveal that nearly the entire global population (99 percent) inhales air that exceeds the organization's guideline limits, with high pollution levels particularly affecting low- and middle-income countries.
A study from July by researchers at Jahangirnagar University indicated that fine particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution results in an estimated 242 daily deaths across six major Bangladeshi cities, leading to an economic loss of around billion annually, as reported by The Daily Star.
The research highlighted that PM2.5 pollution is responsible for approximately 88,240 premature deaths each year in cities like Dhaka, Chattogram, Rajshahi, Khulna, Sylhet, and Barishal, translating to about 260 deaths per 100,000 individuals. The economic impact of PM2.5 pollution in Bangladesh is estimated to be nearly billion each year, according to The Daily Star.
This study analyzed data from 2013 to 2021, conducted by the Climate Change, Air Quality and Health Research (C2AHR) Unit at Jahangirnagar University.