TAG: GS 3: ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT
THE CONTEXT: Begusarai, a city in Bihar, has garnered global attention as the world’s most polluted metropolitan area, according to the World Air Quality Report 2023 by the Swiss organization IQAir.
EXPLANATION:
- With an average annual PM2.5 concentration of 118.9 micrograms per cubic meter, Begusarai surpassed all other cities in terms of air pollution.
- This stark statistic highlights the pressing need for immediate action to address air quality issues in the region.
Delhi: Persistently Poor Air Quality
- Delhi, the capital city of India, once again found itself in the spotlight for having the poorest air quality among capital cities globally.
- Despite efforts to curb pollution levels, Delhi’s PM2.5 levels worsened from 89.1 micrograms per cubic meter in 2022 to 92.7 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023.
- This unfortunate trend marks the fourth consecutive year that Delhi has been ranked as the most polluted capital city in the world, underscoring the persistent challenges faced by authorities in tackling air pollution.
National Air Quality Overview
- India, as a whole, faced significant challenges regarding air quality, ranking third-worst out of 134 countries in 2023.
- With an average annual PM2.5 concentration of 54.4 micrograms per cubic meter, India trailed behind only Bangladesh and Pakistan in terms of air pollution levels.
- This data reflects a concerning deterioration from the previous year, where India was ranked eighth most polluted globally with an average PM2.5 concentration of 53.3 micrograms per cubic meter.
Magnitude of the Issue
- The scale of air pollution in India is staggering, with an estimated 1.36 billion people experiencing PM2.5 concentrations exceeding the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended annual guideline level of 5 micrograms per cubic meter.
- Furthermore, a staggering 1.33 billion people, equivalent to 96% of the Indian population, are exposed to PM2.5 levels exceeding seven times the WHO annual guideline.
- This widespread exposure to hazardous air pollutants poses a grave risk to public health across the nation.
Data Collection and Reporting
- The World Air Quality Report 2023 utilized data from over 7,800 locations across 134 countries, regions, and territories, gathered from regulatory air quality monitoring stations and low-cost air quality sensors.
- This comprehensive approach ensures that the report provides an accurate and detailed assessment of global air quality trends.
Health Implications
- Air pollution is recognized as the greatest environmental threat to human health, contributing to an estimated one in every nine deaths worldwide.
- Exposure to PM2.5 air pollution is associated with a myriad of health conditions, including asthma, cancer, stroke, lung disease, and impaired cognitive development in children.
- Additionally, elevated levels of fine particles can exacerbate existing illnesses such as diabetes and lead to mental health issues.
Swiss organization IQAir and Air Quality Report:
- IQAir is a Swiss air quality technology company, specializing in protection against airborne pollutants, developing air quality monitoring and air cleaning products.
- IQAir also operates AirVisual, a real-time air quality information platform.
- prepares the annual world air quality reports based on data from monitoring stations operated by governments and other institutions and organisations across the world.
- The report includes 7,812 locations in 134 countries, regions and territories.
- India had the third-worst air quality out of 134 countries in 2023 after Bangladesh and Pakistan.
- 5 Concentration – India (54.4 micrograms per cubic metre), Bangladesh (79.9 micrograms per cubic metre) and Pakistan (73.7 micrograms per cubic metre).
- In 2022, India was ranked as the eighth most polluted country with an average PM2.5 concentration of 53.3 micrograms per cubic metre.