Dhaka has been ranked first once again in the list of world cities with the worst air quality.
The capital's air quality index (AQI) was recorded at 254 on Sunday morning, which is known as 'poor' or 'very unhealthy'.
China’s Shenyang and India’s Kolkata occupied the next two spots, with AQI scores of 197 and 188 respectively.
Dhaka's position has been fluctuating from first to fifth in the list of the top polluter cities of the world.
Read More: Dhaka world’s most polluted capital
According to experts, Dhaka’s air quality usually turns unhealthy during winter due to the massive discharge of pollutant particles from construction work, public transports, waste incineration, rundown roads, brick kilns, and other sources.
Polluted air increases the risks of heart disease, chronic respiratory diseases, lung infections and cancer, according to several studies.
An AQI between 101 and 200 is considered 'unhealthy', particularly for sensitive groups. AQI between 201 and 300 is said to be 'poor', while a reading of 301 to 400 is considered 'hazardous', as it poses serious health risks.
AQI, an index for reporting daily air quality, is used by government agencies to inform people how clean or polluted the air of a certain city is, and what associated health effects might be a concern for them.
