Dhaka’s air quality deteriorated to an "unhealthy for sensitive groups" level on Tuesday morning, with the city recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 132 at 10:55 am.

According to IQAir data, this placed Dhaka 11th among cities with the worst air quality globally. Topping the list were Cairo (206), Lahore (181), and Manama (175), all falling into the ‘unhealthy’ or worse categories.

An AQI score between 101 and 150 indicates that air quality poses health risks to sensitive groups, such as children, the elderly, and people with pre-existing respiratory or cardiac conditions. They are advised to limit prolonged outdoor activity. In contrast, AQI values between 50 and 100 are considered ‘moderate’, while readings above 150 become increasingly dangerous — ranging from ‘unhealthy’ to ‘hazardous’ at 301 and above.

The AQI measures air pollution levels based on five key pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO?), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO?), and ozone.

Dhaka has long struggled with air pollution, particularly during the winter months when air quality typically worsens due to dry weather and increased emissions. Conditions generally improve during the monsoon season.

Air pollution poses a significant health threat. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it is responsible for an estimated seven million premature deaths globally each year, linked to diseases such as stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung cancer, and respiratory infections.