For the fourth consecutive year, Delhi continues to reign as the most polluted capital in the world! 35 Indian cities participate in the IQaIR. 2021 World Air Quality Report† India ranks fifth in the world’s most polluted countries, along with Bangladesh (leader of the pack), followed by Chad (the odd one here), Pakistan (no surprises) and Tajikistan (Henlo Central Asia). The other cities in the top 5 polluted capitals are Dhaka (Bangladesh), N’Djamena (Chad), Dushanbe (Tajikistan) and Muscat (Oman).
No country met @WHO air quality standards in 2021, #Delhi remained the most polluted capital in the world: Data
India’s overalls #pollution levels deteriorated in 2021.
Details here: pic.twitter.com/46GfC3c6bh
— Hindustan Times (@htTweets) March 22, 2022
WHO guidelines recommend that hazardous particulate matter in airborne PM2.5 should be kept below 5 micrograms per cubic meter. The chemical composition of PM2.5 consists of toxic compounds such as ammonium, carbon black, nitrates, sulfates etc.
However, according to the report, there is not a single country in the world that meets the latest WHO air quality guideline for PM2.5. Some countries (and cities) are apparently making progress, but it’s all too slow and barely enough.
IQAir is a Swiss pollution technology company that monitors the air quality index. The AQI dashboard (air quality index) in the company regional website features major Asian cities with the highest air pollution levels. Mumbai tops the table with 160 AQI, followed by Delhi with an AQI of 158. Kolkata is 10th in the list with an AQI of 118.
Vehicle emissions are one of the main causes of PM2.5 pollutants. Avinash Chanchal, campaign manager at GreenPeace India, fears aggressive annual vehicle sales will negatively impact air quality.
In 2021 alone, an estimated 40,000 children (under 5 years of age) died from diseases directly related to PM2.5 air pollutants. With an ongoing pandemic severely paralyzing the lungs, the ever-rising PM2.5 is only karela on the cake.
Worried enough? For starters, switch to cycling every now and then. Maybe smoke less. Do your little bit. The bare minimum at least.
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Cover Image: Pixabay