World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that the average annual PM2.5 levels do not exceed 5 micrograms per cubic meter. According to the IQair report, a Swiss company dealing with air quality technology, all the most polluted cities in the world have exceeded this standard more than 10 times. The infamous list is at the forefront of Byrnihatindustrial city in northeastern Indiawhich last year recorded a PM2.5 concentration at 128.2 μg/m³.
First place of the infamous ranking
– I feel sadness and powerlessness that ByrniHat is still at the top of this list. The pollution is now particularly severe, visibility is poor, dust is everywhere, and my eyes are baking. I don't leave the house without a mask – 26-year-old Suman Momin, a resident of the city, said in an interview with CNN.
Amiating air pollution is caused by the activities of nearby factories, dynamic development of the construction industry and tree felling.
All over Indiabecause it is in this country that there is 13 out of the 20 most polluted cities in the worldeconomic growth is mainly driven by coal, and hundreds of millions of people live in crowded and congested metropolises. PM2.5 is emitted during fossil fuels, its source is also sand storms and forest fires.
Also the Indian capital, New Delhihas reasons to be ashamed. The city was recognized as the most polluted capital in the world.
The other four are in the neighboring Pakistan, one in China and Kazakhstan.
In addition to 13 cities from India, in the ranking of the 20 most polluted cities in the world there were four cities from Pakistan, one of China and Kazakhstan, as well as the capital of Chad.
The most polluted countries in the world
Despite the overwhelming statistics, India fell from third to fifth place in the ranking of the most polluted countries compared to the previous year. They are ahead of neighboring countries, in second place Bangladesand the third Pakistan. At the top of the list he was placed Chad. The concentration of dust -threatening dust oscillates at 91.8 μg/m³.
They recorded a slight improvement Chinawhich – although they are still the world's largest carbon dioxide issuer – in recent years they have a campaign against air pollution and develop solar and wind energy.
Unfortunately, some countries were not included in the report due to lack of data. Among them are among them Iran i Afghanistan and some of the countries located in Asia South-eastern. “Air pollution remains a serious threat to both human health and environmental stability, and yet huge populations are not aware of the level of their exposure,” said Frank Hammes, Global General Director of IQAIR in an interview with CNN.
The problem may get worse after how United States At the beginning of March, they announced that they would stop sharing data on air quality due to “budget restrictions”.
Air pollution in the USA
According to the IQAIR report, v North America The most polluted cities are located in California And these are: Ontario, Bloomington and Huntington Park. Interestingly, the US recorded a significant reduction in PM2.5 in 2024 – the annual average fell by 22 percent. compared to the previous year.
According to the presented data, only 17 percent Of the 8,954 cities analyzed worldwide, the standards met WHO regarding air quality.
– Air quality data save lives. They increase consciousness, shape politics, support public health activities and give communities tools to fight pollution, protecting future generations, Hammes said.