According to the most recent research from the Swiss organisation IQAir, titled ‘World Air Quality Research 2023’, India is the third most polluted country out of 134 countries, raising worries about decreasing air quality. With an average yearly PM2.5 concentration of 54.4 micrograms per cubic metre, India trails just Bangladesh and Pakistan in the area.
Bangladesh held its unfortunate distinction as the world’s most polluted country, with an average PM2.5 concentration of 79.9 micrograms per cubic metre, closely followed by Pakistan (73.7).
To make matters worse, Delhi remained the world’s most polluted capital city for the fourth year in a row. In 2023, the PM2.5 concentration in Delhi increased to 92.7 micrograms per cubic metre from 89.1 micrograms in 2022.
In comparison to the previous year, India’s air quality decreased, dropping from eighth to third place in the worldwide rankings in 2022, with an average PM2.5 level of 53.3 micrograms per cubic metre.
Begusarai, Bihar, was an unexpected addition to the alarming figures, emerging as the world’s most polluted urban region. Begusarai was unexpectedly absent from last year’s list, with an average PM2.5 concentration of 118.9 micrograms per cubic metre.
The most recent IQAir study offers a grim picture, weakening residents’ optimism despite government efforts, collaborative activities, and attempts from startups and environmentally concerned businesses. The actions taken so far appear insufficient to stabilise air quality. In the 2022 study, IQAir stated that about 60% of Indian cities had yearly PM2.5 levels that were above WHO standards.
The 2022 World Air Quality Report collected data from 7,323 stations in 131 nations, regions, and territories. In 2023, the dataset will comprise 7,812 places from 134 nations, regions, and territories.
Air pollution is a major global health hazard, accounting for one out of every nine fatalities globally. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), air pollution causes nearly seven million premature deaths each year, disproportionately impacting people with respiratory diseases such as asthma, cancer, and stroke. Furthermore, exposure to high levels of PM2.5 has been linked to reduced cognitive performance in children, worsening of existing health problems, and negative impacts on mental health.
