Urban areas attract people looking for better lives and job possibilities. However, increasing urbanization adds to high levels of air pollution, which has serious consequences for public health. It contributes to the spread of illnesses including cardiovascular disease, respiratory problems, type 2 diabetes, and respiratory infections. These disorders’ repercussions contribute to premature death rates.
For healthy air, the World Health Organization (WHO) has produced Air Quality Guidelines that propose an outdoor refined particle pollution concentration of 5 micrograms per cubic meter. However, the air quality regulations in many major global cities do not satisfy the WHO requirements.
Most Polluted Countries in the World – World Air Quality Report
The report’s data comes from a comprehensive investigation of air pollution exposures and their health consequences. Between 2010 and 2019, data was collected from 7,000 cities. The study looks at two types of air pollutants: ambient fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), a gaseous pollutant emitted mostly by transportation.
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Rank |
10 Most Polluted Countries in the World |
|---|---|
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1 |
Chad |
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2 |
Iraq |
|
3 |
Pakistan |
|
4 |
Bahrain |
|
5 |
Bangladesh |
|
6 |
Burkina Faso |
|
7 |
Kuwait |
|
8 |
India |
|
9 |
Egypt |
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10 |
Tajikistan |
Air Pollution Chart – Standard metric
The World Air Quality Report uses PM 2.5 values in micrograms per cubic meter (g/m3) as the reference measure.
PM 2.5 is a tiny aerosol particle with a diameter of 2.5 microns, one of six frequently measured criterion air pollutants, and usually regarded as the most hazardous to human health. Its presence in the environment can have a variety of negative health impacts.
PM 2.5 stands for Particulate Matter 2.5, and it refers to tiny airborne particles or droplets in the atmosphere that have a diameter of 2.5 micrometers (μm) or smaller. These particles are often referred to as “fine particulate matter” and are a type of air pollution.
PM 2.5 is emitted from a number of sources and varies in chemical composition, physical qualities, and features. PM 2.5 contains a variety of chemical components, including sulphates, nitrates, black carbon, and ammonium. The most frequent man-made sources are internal combustion engines. By comparing these particles in the air, the World Air Quality Report is created. The most prevalent natural causes of PM 2.5 are wildfires, dust storms, sandstorms, and thunderstorms.
World Air Quality Report – Significance
Air pollution has been continuously growing throughout the years, and it is responsible for around 7 million fatalities each year. The World Air Quality Report informs us about the cities that are the most harmful to live in.
Air pollution is frequently the cause of ailments including asthma, cancer, and even heart disease. Specifically, during the COVID-19 pandemic, PM2.5 increases the chance of viral infection and can induce severe symptoms.
The World Air Quality Report by IQAir functions as a cycle of awareness that engages, educates, and motivates governments, individuals, corporations, and collaborationists to create healthier neighbourhoods and cities.
World Air Quality Report – India Rank
In India, the transport industry is responsible for 20–35% of PM2.5 pollution in the country. The use of biomass fuels, industrial plants, and coal-fired power plants also contributes to the deterioration of air quality. Delhi ranks fourth among the 50 most polluted cities in the world. The city with the worst air pollution is Lahore in Pakistan, followed by Hotan in China.
Third place goes to Bhiwadi from Rajasthan. According to the data, Delhi’s PM2.5 concentration is about 20 times the recommended level. The study distinguishes between ‘big’ Delhi and the capital, New Delhi, as historically, Delhi was the most polluted capital in the world.
Both cities are in the top 10, but Chad’s N’Djamena has the dubious reputation of being the world’s most polluted capital.
- Pollution levels have decreased in NCR areas such as Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram, and Faridabad.
- Data show that PM 2.5 levels increased by 34% in Gurugram and by 21% in Faridabad compared to the average levels of the previous year.
- Temperatures rose by 8°C in Delhi. Pollution levels have significantly decreased in 31 cities, including 10 in Uttar Pradesh and 7 in Haryana, according to the study.
- The study found that a total of 38 cities and municipalities had seen pollution levels rise in recent years compared to the national average.
- The survey found that Kolkata was the most polluted of the six major cities, followed by Delhi.
- Chennai, on the other hand, was considered the cleanest country, with contamination levels “only” five times the safe limit recommended by the WHO. Since 2017, pollution levels in the major cities of Hyderabad and Bangalore have been above average.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is believed that Quick urbanisation calls for guarantees of superior lives but brings forward increased urban contamination, jeopardising open wellbeing. This deceptive danger leads to a slew of ailments, from cardiovascular infections to respiratory issues, contributing to untimely deaths. The World Health Organization’s (WHO) rules propose an open-air fine particulate contamination level of 5 micrograms per cubic meter, a standard regularly neglected in major worldwide cities.
The World Air Quality Report, a stark disclosure, highlights the horrid reality of around 7 million yearly passes inferable to discuss contamination. IQAir’s report acts as a clarion call, requesting activity to cleanse our sickly urban situations. India, especially, grapples with serious contamination, requiring concerted endeavours to reestablish natural imperativeness.
World Air Quality Report 2023 – FAQs
1. Where does India rank in the 2023 World Air Quality Report?
India’s capital, Delhi, ranks 4th in the 2023 World Air Quality Report. According to IQAir, Delhi is one of the three most polluted cities in the world after Chiang Mai (Thailand), Kathmandu (Nepal), and Shenyang (China).
2. Who publishes the Global Air Quality Report?
IQAir publishes the Global Air Quality Report annually, covering the world’s most polluted cities. No city in India meets WHO air quality guidelines. As a result, many Indian cities are repeatedly listed in the World Air Quality Report.
3. According to the World Air Quality Report, which city is the most polluted in the world?
According to the World Air Quality Report, the most polluted city in the world is Chiang Mai, Thailand. Following Chiang Mai are Kathmandu (Nepal), Shenyang (China), Delhi (India), and Kuwait City (Kuwait).
4. Which country in South Asia has the worst air quality according to the World Air Quality Report?
According to the World Air Quality Report, India and Pakistan are the countries with the worst air quality. India’s capital, Delhi, is her fourth-largest city in the world, according to the 2023 World Air Quality Report.