Dhaka ranked 22nd among cities with the worst air quality on Monday morning (June 30, 2025), recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 77 at 9:30 am.

According to the AQI scale, this score places the capital’s air in the ‘moderate’ category, indicating a light health risk, particularly for individuals sensitive to air pollution. The city has maintained this level of air quality for several consecutive days.

The AQI measures daily air pollution levels and the associated health risks. An AQI between 50 and 100 is considered ‘moderate’, while values between 101 and 150 are ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’. Higher ranges indicate more severe health threats, with readings above 301 classified as ‘hazardous’.

At the top of Monday`s list were Kampala in Uganda (157), Santiago in Chile (153), and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (137), all falling under the ‘unhealthy’ category.

Bangladesh’s AQI readings are based on five major pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO?), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO?), and ozone (O?).

Air quality in Dhaka typically worsens during winter due to lower wind speeds and increased emissions but tends to improve during the monsoon season.

Globally, air pollution remains a major health concern. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that seven million people die annually from diseases linked to polluted air, including stroke, heart disease, chronic respiratory illnesses, lung cancer, and infections.