India is home to 18 of the 20 cities with the most severe increase in fine particle pollutants (PM 2.5) from 2010 to 2019, according to a comprehensive and detailed analysis of air pollution and global health effects for over 7,000 cities released on Wednesday.
The report published by the U. S.-based research organisation Health Effects Institute (HEI) also shows that Delhi has the highest average level of fine PM 2.5 among the world's most populated cities.
The analysis used data from 2010 to 2019 and focussed on two of the most harmful pollutants; fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2).