Bangladesh’s Air Quality Worsens by Securing 1st Spot in Global Pollution Rankings

Bangladesh has taken the top spot as the world’s most polluted country in 2024 with a worrying average AQI of 140. Its neighbors Pakistan (115 AQI) and India (111 AQI) also sit in the top three showing South Asia’s serious air pollution problem. In January, Bangladesh’s AQI shot up to 244 reaching dangerous levels. A main cause of this pollution is the high PM2.5 level of 75 µg/m³ which goes way beyond the WHO’s safe limit of 10 µg/m³. Big sources include car fumes, factory waste and burning plant matter making smog worse in winter in Bangladesh.

Air Quality Index in Dhaka is 270.

Condition: Very Unhealthy 🌥️😰

Caution: Asthma patients stay indoors; others, reduce outdoor activity, especially children..https://t.co/GHMsOU9a7h#Dhaka #Bangladesh #AirQuality #News #PublicHealth

— Air Quality Watch (@aqiwatch) November 16, 2024

Health Impact:

Bangladesh’s polluted air leads to respiratory issues, heart complications and reduced lifespans to the citizens. The WHO cautions that lifelong exposure to small particles might shorten lives by several years since inhaling polluted air poses a major health threat in the nation.

Immediate actions are critical to curb pollution such as monitoring factories and advocating for greener energy and without alterations, Bangladesh could deal with more severe health and ecological troubles down the line.