A new report by IQAir, a global air quality monitoring company, has revealed that 99 out of the 100 cities with the worst air pollution in 2022 were located in Asia. The report highlights the alarming state of air quality in the region and the significant role played by the climate crisis in exacerbating the problem, putting the health of billions of people at risk.
The study focused on fine particulate matter, or PM2.5, which is considered the most dangerous pollutant due to its ability to penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream. PM2.5 has been linked to various health issues, including asthma, heart and lung disease, cancer, and cognitive impairment in children. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that the average annual PM2.5 level should not exceed 5 micrograms per cubic meter. However, the report found that only 9% of the more than 7,800 cities analyzed met this guideline.
Begusarai, a city of half a million people in northern India’s Bihar state, topped the list as the world’s most polluted city in 2022, with an average annual PM2.5 concentration of 118.9 micrograms per cubic meter—a staggering 23 times higher than the WHO guidelines. Other Indian cities, including Guwahati, Delhi, and Mullanpur, also featured prominently in the rankings.
The report paints a grim picture for South Asia, with 29 of the 30 most polluted cities located in India, Pakistan, or Bangladesh. In India alone, 1.3 billion people, or 96% of the population, live with air quality seven times worse than the recommended levels. The major population centers of Lahore, Pakistan (5th), New Delhi, India (6th), and Dhaka, Bangladesh (24th) also ranked among the most polluted cities globally.
IQAir CEO Frank Hammes emphasized that significant improvements in air quality in the region are unlikely without major changes in energy infrastructure and agricultural practices. He also noted the worrying overlap between outdoor and indoor air pollution, with the use of dirty fuels for cooking contributing to indoor exposures that could be many times higher than outdoor levels.
The report underscores the global nature of the air pollution problem, with 92.5% of the 7,812 locations analyzed exceeding the WHO’s PM2.5 guidelines. Only 10 countries and territories, including Finland, Estonia, Puerto Rico, Australia, and New Zealand, had “healthy” air quality, according to the report.
The human-caused climate crisis, driven by the burning of fossil fuels, has been identified as a key factor influencing air pollution levels. The report states that the climate crisis alters weather patterns, affecting the dispersion of pollutants, and will only worsen pollution as extreme heat becomes more severe and frequent. Additionally, the climate crisis is leading to more intense wildfires and longer pollen seasons, further exacerbating health issues linked to air pollution.
The report notes that reducing air pollution would have a tremendous impact on both public health and climate change mitigation efforts. “We have such a strong overlap between what’s causing our climate crisis and what’s causing air pollution,” said Hammes. “Anything that we can do to reduce air pollution will be tremendously impactful in the long term, as will improving our climate gas emissions, and vice versa.”
While some regions, such as North America, experienced increased pollution due to wildfires, others, like China, saw a reversal in their five-year trend of declining pollution levels. The report also highlighted the lack of monitoring stations in Africa, South America, and the Middle East, resulting in a scarcity of air quality data in these regions.
Despite the grim findings, the report noted growing pressure and civic engagement from communities, NGOs, companies, and scientists to monitor air quality, demonstrating the public’s concern and desire for action to address this critical issue. As the world grapples with the twin crises of air pollution and climate change, it is clear that urgent and comprehensive action is needed to protect public health and ensure a sustainable future for all.
