Air pollution is worse in the Global South.
A Swiss company, IQAir, has released a new report called the World Air Quality Report 2024. It studied air pollution in 8,954 cities in 138 countries.
The report shows that air pollution is worse in the Global South. The five most polluted countries are Chad, Bangladesh, Pakistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and India.
India has the world’s most polluted city (Byrnihat, Assam) and the most polluted capital city (New Delhi).
What is Particulate Matter?
Particulate matter (PM) is tiny dust, dirt, or smoke in the air. Scientists measure it in micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m³).
Smaller particles are more dangerous for our health. There are two main types — PM 10 and PM 2.5. PM 2.5 is considered more harmful to people.
Why is PM 2.5 more harmful?
PM 10 particles are small but not very tiny. The hairs in our nose and throat stop most of them. We can sneeze or cough them out.
PM 2.5 particles are extremely tiny. They can enter our lungs and get into our blood.
This can cause heart disease, asthma, bronchitis, and even early death. PM 2.5 pollution causes millions of people to die every year.
How can we fix this problem?
The World Health Organization (WHO) says safe PM 2.5 levels should be 5 µg/m³ per year. But only 17% of cities in the report have safe air.
Air pollution does not stop at country borders. Many polluted cities in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal have the same sources — factory smoke, traffic, and burning waste.
Thus, Asian and African countries must work together to fight against this issue. More air quality stations should be set up to help find better local solutions.
