New Delhi: Bihar’s Begusarai has been identified as the world’s most polluted metropolitan area, while Delhi retains its status as the capital city with the poorest air quality, according to the latest World Air Quality Report 2023.
The report, compiled by the Swiss organization IQAir, highlights that India ranked third in terms of average annual PM2.5 concentration out of 134 countries in 2023, with an average of 54.4 micrograms per cubic meter. Bangladesh and Pakistan ranked higher, with concentrations of 79.9 and 73.7 micrograms per cubic meter, respectively.
Begusarai, previously unranked, emerged as the most polluted metropolitan area globally, recording an average PM2.5 concentration of 118.9 micrograms per cubic meter. Meanwhile, Delhi’s PM2.5 levels saw a marginal increase from 89.1 micrograms per cubic meter in 2022 to 92.7 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023.
Delhi has consistently held the title of the most polluted capital city in the world since 2018, reflecting the ongoing challenges faced by the national capital in combating air pollution.
The report highlights that a staggering 1.36 billion people in India experience PM2.5 concentrations exceeding the World Health Organization’s recommended annual guideline level of 5 micrograms per cubic meter. Additionally, 96 percent of India’s population, approximately 1.33 billion people, are exposed to PM2.5 levels exceeding seven times the WHO annual guideline.
IQAir utilized data from over 30,000 regulatory air quality monitoring stations and low-cost air quality sensors worldwide to compile the report. In 2023, the data included 7,812 locations across 134 countries, regions, and territories.
Air pollution remains a significant environmental threat, causing approximately one in every nine deaths worldwide, according to the report. The WHO estimates that air pollution contributes to seven million premature deaths annually, with exposure to PM2.5 pollution linked to various health conditions, including asthma, cancer, stroke, and lung disease. Additionally, elevated levels of fine particles can impact cognitive development in children and exacerbate existing illnesses, such as diabetes.
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