Asia has emerged as the most polluted region in the world, with 83 of the world's 100 most polluted cities found in the continent.
The World Health Organization's air quality criteria was surpassed by more than ten times in the vast majority of these cities (83), as per a report by IQAir, a global air quality tracking service.
15 most polluted countries in the world (>PM2.5)
• Pakistan 73.7
• India 54.4
• Tajikistan 49
• Burkina Faso 46.6
• Iraq 43.8
• United Arab Emirates 43
• Nepal 42.4
• Egypt 42.4
• DR Congo 40.8
• Kuwait 39.9
• Bahrain 39.2
• Qatar 37.6
• Indonesia 37.1
• Rwanda 36.8
The smallest but most deadly pollutant is fine particulate matter, or PM2.5, and this was the focus of the study.
Out of almost 7,800 cities examined worldwide, only 9% had air quality records that satisfied the WHO's criteria, which states that the average annual concentration of PM2.5 should not be more than 5 micrograms per cubic meter.
"We see that in every part of our lives that air pollution has an impact," stated Frank Hammes, CEO of IQAir Global.
“And it typically, in some of the most polluted countries, is likely shaving off anywhere between three to six years of people’s lives. And then before that will lead to many years of suffering that are entirely preventable if there’s better air quality.”
PM2.5 enters the bloodstream by deeply penetrating lung tissue through inhalation.
Originating from various sources such as the burning of fossil fuels, dust storms, and wildfires, it has been connected to respiratory disorders like asthma, heart and lung disease, cancer, and other ailments, as well as cognitive decline in children.
