Delhi Tops Global Air Pollution Rankings, Dhaka Ranks Sixth
On Tuesday, New Delhi recorded the worst air quality in the world, topping the list of the most polluted cities with an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 184. Meanwhile, Dhaka ranked sixth, registering an AQI score of 166, according to real-time air quality monitoring data from IQAir, a Switzerland-based air quality technology company.
At 10:00 AM on March 18, the IQAir website placed Lahore, Pakistan, in second place with an AQI of 179, followed by Dubai, UAE, in third place with 174. Kampala, Uganda, secured fourth place with 167, while Cairo, Egypt, ranked fifth with 166, tying with Dhaka.
Understanding the Air Quality Index
IQAir provides live air quality data for cities worldwide, offering an assessment of how clean or polluted the air is at any given moment. According to its standards:
- An AQI score between 0 and 50 is considered good, indicating clean air.
- Scores ranging from 51 to 100 fall under the moderate category.
- An AQI between 101 and 150 is deemed unhealthy for sensitive groups.
- A reading of 151 to 200 is categorized as unhealthy for the general population.
- Scores between 201 and 300 are regarded as very unhealthy, while readings above 301 are classified as hazardous or severe.
As global air pollution continues to be a major public health concern, experts emphasize the urgent need for improved air quality management and pollution control measures in the world's most affected cities.
