Air pollution levels continue to rise worldwide due to various factors, and on Monday, Dhaka topped the list of the world’s most polluted cities. According to data from the international air quality monitoring organization IQAir, recorded at 8:50 AM, Dhaka had the highest air pollution level of the day.

IQAir provides real-time air quality index (AQI) updates, offering insights into how clean or polluted the air in a particular city is and warning residents accordingly. Dhaka’s AQI score stood at 392, indicating hazardous air quality that poses serious health risks. Lahore, Pakistan, ranked second with an AQI of 258, while Delhi, India, followed in third place with a score of 255.

The AQI scale ranges from 0 to 50, which is considered "good," while a score of 51 to 100 is classified as "moderate." An AQI between 101 and 150 is deemed "unhealthy for sensitive groups," such as children, the elderly, and individuals with respiratory conditions. When the AQI ranges from 151 to 200, it is categorized as "unhealthy," and a score between 201 and 300 is labeled "very unhealthy," at which point outdoor activities should be minimized, especially for vulnerable individuals.

AQI readings between 301 and 400 are considered "hazardous," posing severe health risks to residents. The AQI is determined based on five major pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), and ozone (O₃).