Dhaka ranks first globally in air pollution

Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, has topped the list of cities with the worst air pollution, followed by Lahore in Pakistan.

This information was revealed by the Air Quality Index (AQI) at 8:46 AM on Monday, as recorded by IQAir, a real-time air quality monitoring organisation.

Dhaka's pollution score reached 227, indicating that the air quality in the city is in a very unhealthy range. Lahore, in second place, had a pollution score of 178, categorising its air as unhealthy.

India's Delhi ranked third, with a pollution score of 172, showing similarly unhealthy air quality.

Indonesia's Jakarta holds the fourth position, followed by another Indian city, Kolkata, in fifth place.

A score between 0 and 50 is considered good air quality. A range from 51 to 100 is regarded as moderate or acceptable. For sensitive groups, a score between 101 and 150 is unhealthy. The range from 151 to 200 is categorised as unhealthy, while a score between 201 and 300 is considered very unhealthy. Any score over 301 is deemed hazardous.

Air pollution is becoming increasingly dangerous in South Asian countries, significantly affecting public health. Research indicates that South Asia is emerging as a global hotspot for air pollution.