Critical Air Pollution in Dhaka: Mask Up for Safety
- Update Time : 08:05:54 am, Sunday, 5 January 2025
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According to IQAir’s air quality index, at 10:05 AM on Sunday, Dhaka’s air quality reached a hazardous score of 445, making it the worst among 125 cities worldwide. This level of pollution is considered “disastrous.” While pollution is a common issue at the start of the week, the air quality has not been this severe in recent times. Baghdad, Iraq, ranks second with a score of 444, also categorized as “disastrous.” Karachi, Pakistan, follows in third place with a score of 248, while Hanoi, Vietnam, and Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, occupy the fourth and fifth positions. The most polluted areas in Dhaka include Gulshan Lake Park (769), Gulshan-2’s Rab Bhaban (728), and the US Embassy area (706). IQAir, a Switzerland-based organization, updated these figures on its website, offering live updates to inform people about the air quality and warn them of the risks. It is recommended to wear masks when outdoors for better health, especially with air quality at this dangerous level. Experts suggest declaring a health emergency if the air quality remains above 300 for three continuous hours over three days. To raise awareness, the Department of Environment should spread messages through print, electronic media, and social media platforms. IQAir’s air quality scale categorizes scores from 51-100 as “moderate,” 101-150 as “unhealthy for sensitive groups,” 151-200 as “unhealthy,” 201-300 as “very unhealthy,” and anything above 301 as “disastrous” or “hazardous.”
