Dhaka`s air quality has been ranked the third worst globally this morning, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 217 recorded at 8:40 AM on February 26, 2025.

The air was classified as `very unhealthy,` indicating a serious health risk for residents.

Today`s AQI score represents a 30-point increase compared to yesterday, further worsening the city`s air quality. An AQI score between 201 and 300 is categorized as `very unhealthy,` which poses a severe health threat to the public.

Cities like Dakar (Senegal), Delhi (India), and Kathmandu (Nepal) topped the list, with AQI scores of 258, 250, and 181, respectively.

The AQI measures daily air quality based on five pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and ozone. Dhaka has been facing ongoing air pollution challenges, particularly during the winter months when the air quality typically worsens, improving slightly during the monsoon season.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution is responsible for an estimated seven million deaths annually, primarily due to heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, and acute respiratory infections.