Swiss technology company IQAir has been monitoring air quality around the world for several years. They have just released the 6th Annual World Air Quality Report, revealing troubling details of the world’s most polluted countries, territories and regions in 2023.
Data from more than 30,000 air quality monitoring stations across 7,812 locations in 134 countries, territories and regions were analysed by IQAir’s air quality scientists, who found that only 7 countries met the WHO annual PM2.5 guideline (annual average of 5 µg/m3 or less): Australia, Estonia, Finland, Grenada, Iceland, Mauritius and New Zealand.
On the other hand, a total of 124 (92.5%) out of 134 countries and regions exceeded the WHO annual PM2.5 guideline value of 5 µg/m3. The top five most polluted countries in 2023 were:
- Bangladesh (79.9 µg/m3) more than 15 times higher than the WHO PM2.5 annual guideline
- Pakistan (73.7 µg/m3) more than 14 times higher than the WHO PM2.5 annual guideline
- India (54.4 µg/m3) more than 10 times higher than the WHO PM2.5 annual guideline
- Tajikistan (49.0 µg/m3) more than 9 times higher than the WHO PM2.5 annual guideline
- Burkina Faso (46.6 µg/m3) more than 9 times higher than the WHO PM2.5 annual guideline
Besides the worrying finds, the report highlights that, despite a steady increase the number of countries and regions with air quality monitoring, there remain significant gaps in government-operated regulatory instrumentation in many parts of the world. Low-cost air quality monitors, sponsored and hosted by citizen scientists, researchers, community advocates and local organisations, have thus become valuable tools to reduce gaps in air monitoring networks across the world.
“A clean, healthy, and sustainable environment is a universal human right. In many parts of the world the lack of air quality data delays decisive action and perpetuates unnecessary human suffering. Air quality data saves lives. Where air quality is reported, action is taken, and air quality improves”, said Frank Hammes, Global CEO of IQAir.
Causing an estimated one in every nine deaths worldwide, air pollution is the greatest environmental threat to human health. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution is responsible for an estimated seven million premature deaths worldwide every year.
Exposure to PM2.5 air pollution leads to and exacerbates numerous health conditions, including but not limited to asthma, cancer, stroke, lung disease and, according to a recent study, even Alzheimer’s. Additionally, exposure to elevated levels of fine particles can impair cognitive development in children, lead to mental health issues and complicate existing illnesses including diabetes.
