A recent report has shed light on the concerning state of air quality in cities across Asia, with a staggering 99 out of the 100 most polluted cities in the world located in this region. The study, conducted by IQAir, highlighted the detrimental impact of the climate crisis on air quality, posing serious health risks to billions of individuals globally.
India emerged as the epicenter of this air pollution crisis, with 83 of the polluted cities situated within its borders. These cities exceeded the World Health Organization's air quality guidelines by more than 10 times, particularly in terms of fine particulate matter known as PM2.5.
PM2.5, the smallest yet most hazardous pollutant, has been linked to a myriad of health issues including asthma, heart and lung diseases, cancer, and respiratory illnesses. Shockingly, only 9% of the over 7,800 cities analyzed worldwide met the WHO's standard for PM2.5 levels, which should not exceed 5 micrograms per cubic meter annually.
The city of Begusarai in India's Bihar state claimed the unenviable title of the world's most polluted city last year, recording an average annual PM2.5 concentration of 118.9, a staggering 23 times higher than the WHO guidelines. Other Indian cities such as Guwahati, Delhi, and Mullanpur also featured prominently in the list of highly polluted cities.
With 1.3 billion people in India living in areas where air quality exceeds WHO guidelines by seven times, urgent action is needed to address this public health crisis. Central and South Asia were identified as the worst-performing regions globally, with countries like Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, and Tajikistan facing significant air pollution challenges.
The report emphasized the need for substantial changes in energy infrastructure and agricultural practices to combat air pollution effectively. Additionally, the correlation between outdoor and indoor air pollution was highlighted, with activities like cooking with dirty fuel contributing to heightened indoor exposures.
It is evident that addressing the issue of air pollution in Asia requires a multi-faceted approach involving government interventions, public awareness campaigns, and sustainable practices to safeguard the health and well-being of millions of people in the region.
