Shawdesh Desk:

Dhaka’s air quality was ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’ on Saturday morning.

With an air quality index score of 119 at about 09:20am, Dhaka ranked 15th on the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality.

China’s Beijing, Indian’s Delhi and Pakistan’s Lahore occupied the first three spots on the list, with AQI scores of 223, 212 and 204, respectively.

When the AQI value for particle pollution is between 50 and 100, air quality is considered ‘moderate’, usually sensitive individuals should consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion, between 101 and 150, air quality is considered ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’, between 150 and 200 is ‘unhealthy’, between 201 and 300 is said to be ‘very unhealthy’, while a reading of 301 and above is considered ‘hazardous’, posing serious health risks to residents.

In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five criteria pollutants — particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2 and Ozone.

Dhaka has long grappled with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in the winter and improves during the monsoon.

Air pollution consistently ranks among the top risk factors for death and disability worldwide.

As per the World Health Organisation, air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year.