Dhaka ranked seventh among the world’s most polluted cities on Tuesday, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 166, indicating unhealthy air quality.
According to Swiss-based air quality monitoring organisation IQAir, Dhaka recorded the score on October 20, placing it seventh among 126 cities monitored worldwide.
India’s Delhi topped the list with an AQI score of 201, followed by Pakistan’s Lahore at 200 and Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur at 190.
India’s Mumbai ranked fourth with a score of 181, while Singapore City placed fifth at 168.
An AQI reading between 151 and 200 is classified as unhealthy, meaning air pollution can pose health risks to the general population, not just sensitive groups.
Major sources of air pollution in Dhaka include emissions from brick kilns and vehicles, along with dust from construction sites.
Exposure to polluted air is associated with increased risks of respiratory infections, heart disease, stroke and lung cancer.