Dhaka’s air was ranked among the world’s most polluted on Thursday morning, placing eighth globally with an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 177 at 9:40 am, according to data from air quality monitoring sources.

The capital’s air was classified as “unhealthy,” posing potential health risks for residents, particularly those with respiratory conditions.

Under the AQI scale, a score between 151 and 200 is considered “unhealthy,” meaning everyone may begin to experience health effects, while sensitive groups may face more serious risks. Readings between 201 and 300 are “very unhealthy,” and scores above 300 are deemed “hazardous.”

India’s Delhi, Kolkata, and China’s Beijing topped the list of cities with the worst air quality this morning, with AQI scores of 722, 216, and 205 respectively.

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

Dhaka’s air pollution typically worsens during the dry winter months due to construction dust, vehicle emissions, and brick kiln smoke, but tends to improve during the monsoon season.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution contributes to around seven million deaths globally each year, primarily from stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and respiratory infections.