Top 20 Most Polluted Cities in the World Revealed, Asia Dominates the List. A recent study has revealed the world’s top 20 most polluted cities, with the overwhelming majority of them located in Asia. The list, which highlights cities with the highest levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), showcases the severe air pollution issues facing numerous countries, particularly in South Asia.
According to the report, 13 of the 20 most polluted cities are in India, the world’s most populous country, where rapid economic growth, largely driven by coal, has contributed to the widespread pollution. The country’s major cities, along with numerous smaller towns, suffer from high levels of congestion, industrial emissions, and construction dust.
Four cities in neighboring Pakistan also made the list, along with one city each from China and Kazakhstan. Notably, the only city outside Asia that appeared in the top 20 is N’Djamena, the capital of Chad, located in central Africa. Chad ranked as the worst country globally for air pollution, with a PM2.5 concentration more than 18 times the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended safety limits.
The report, compiled by the Swiss air quality monitoring company IQAir, focuses on PM2.5, a dangerous pollutant that comes from sources like fossil fuel combustion, dust storms, and wildfires. PM2.5 particles are so tiny that they can bypass the body’s natural defenses, entering the lungs and bloodstream, where they can cause respiratory problems, heart disease, and even mental health issues.
In India, cities like New Delhi and its surrounding areas, including Faridabad, Noida, and Gurugram, continue to experience alarmingly high pollution levels. New Delhi topped the list for the sixth consecutive year with a PM2.5 concentration of 91.8, far exceeding the WHO’s safe limit of 5 micrograms per cubic meter.
The report also highlighted the severe pollution in other South Asian countries, including Bangladesh and Pakistan, both of which rank as the second and third most polluted nations globally. The air quality in these countries remains a major health concern, with exposure to high PM2.5 levels reducing life expectancy by several years.
China, which was once a dominant player in global pollution rankings, showed a slight improvement. The country’s national average PM2.5 concentration decreased, indicating progress in its efforts to tackle air pollution through initiatives like expanding renewable energy sources and regulating industrial emissions. However, concerns persist, especially as plans for new coal plants continue to emerge, potentially reversing some of the recent gains in air quality.
In Africa, Chad’s capital city, N’Djamena, emerged as the city with the worst air quality globally, exacerbated by factors such as industrial emissions and limited environmental regulations. Other African nations, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, also recorded troubling pollution levels.
In North America, cities in California, such as Ontario, Bloomington, and Huntington Park, had the highest levels of pollution, although the U.S. as a whole showed a significant reduction in PM2.5 levels, with a 22% drop from the previous year.
The report stresses the importance of addressing air pollution as a critical global health and environmental issue. It calls for stronger regulations on industrial emissions, increased investments in renewable energy, and better monitoring systems, particularly in regions where air quality data is lacking.
Countries like Chad, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India face immense challenges in improving air quality, but the report emphasizes the need for continued action and collaboration between governments, industries, and local communities to protect public health and the environment.
