Online Report : Dhaka ranked 45th on the list of cities with the worst air quality on Monday morning, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 60 at 9:34 am, according to the latest data.

The city’s air was classified as ‘moderate’, indicating a light health threat, especially for sensitive individuals who are advised to limit prolonged outdoor activities.

Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo topped the list with an AQI score of 153, followed by Jakarta in Indonesia with 151 and Lahore in Pakistan with 118. These cities recorded air quality levels considered "unhealthy for sensitive groups" or worse.

The AQI is a standardized tool used to report daily air quality, indicating how polluted the air is and what health impacts might be expected. In Bangladesh, the AQI is measured based on the presence of five major pollutants: particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), nitrogen dioxide (NO?), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO?), and ozone (O?).

AQI levels are categorized as follows:

0–50: Good

51–100: Moderate

101–150: Unhealthy for sensitive groups

151–200: Unhealthy

201–300: Very unhealthy

301 and above: Hazardous

Dhaka has long struggled with air pollution, particularly during the winter months when AQI levels tend to spike. Conditions usually improve during the monsoon due to increased rainfall and better air circulation.

Globally, air pollution remains a leading environmental health risk. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around seven million people die each year due to exposure to polluted air, with major health impacts including stroke, heart disease, chronic respiratory diseases, lung cancer, and infections.