Air pollution is an insidious killer. If you are among the 91% of the world’s population who breathes air the World Health Organisation (WHO) deems unsafe, then every time you inhale, microscopic particles are being drawn into your lungs. They get into your bloodstream, causing cancers, strokes and heart disease, stunting children’s growth and development, and even reducing your intelligence.
Now, a new study by IQAir AirVisual and Greenpeace has identified the cities where air pollution is highest. The list is dominated by India, with seven of the worst 10 cities, and 22 of the worst 30.
The most polluted city on earth is Gurugram, a financial and industrial hub of nearly 1 million people situated about 30 kilometres southwest of New Delhi. There, average air pollution levels in 2018 were more than 13 times the level permitted under WHO guidelines, although air quality had actually improved slightly since the previous year.
Like Gurugram, the next four Indian cities on the list are satellites of Delhi, which is the most polluted capital on earth. Patna and Lucknow, along with Faisalabad and Lahore in Pakistan, and Hotan in China, round out the worst 10.
The research focussed on the levels of fine particulate matter known as PM2.5. These microscopic particles 20 times smaller than the width of a human hair are the most damaging to human health. They can be metals, organic compounds or the by-products of combustion from coal-fired power stations, wood and charcoal-burning stoves, vehicle engines and factories.
www.weforum.org
Now, a new study by IQAir AirVisual and Greenpeace has identified the cities where air pollution is highest. The list is dominated by India, with seven of the worst 10 cities, and 22 of the worst 30.
The most polluted city on earth is Gurugram, a financial and industrial hub of nearly 1 million people situated about 30 kilometres southwest of New Delhi. There, average air pollution levels in 2018 were more than 13 times the level permitted under WHO guidelines, although air quality had actually improved slightly since the previous year.
Like Gurugram, the next four Indian cities on the list are satellites of Delhi, which is the most polluted capital on earth. Patna and Lucknow, along with Faisalabad and Lahore in Pakistan, and Hotan in China, round out the worst 10.
The research focussed on the levels of fine particulate matter known as PM2.5. These microscopic particles 20 times smaller than the width of a human hair are the most damaging to human health. They can be metals, organic compounds or the by-products of combustion from coal-fired power stations, wood and charcoal-burning stoves, vehicle engines and factories.
7 of the world’s 10 most polluted cities are in India
Air pollution is costing India dearly - both in human lives and economic damage. But the success of policies Europe, California and China prove that pollution can be cut without giving up on growth.
www.weforum.org
