Air pollution is one of the most serious environmental threats worldwide, contributing to the premature deaths of millions of people every year due to health problems and diseases. Let’s find out the names of the top 10 most air-polluted cities in the world, with the highest levels of air pollution.
It may surprise you to know that, in 2024, only 17% of cities worldwide met the World Health Organization’s yearly PM2.5 guideline of lower than 5 µg/M3, which suggests that a large portion of the urban population is exposed to unhealthy air.
Visual Capitalist has released a list of the most air-polluted cities in 2024, based on fine particulate matter (PM2.5) data from IQAir.
India hosts the world’s most air-polluted cities, accounting for 6 of the top 10 in 2024.
Byrnihat, a city in the northeastern Indian state of Meghalaya, recorded some of the worst air pollution in the world last year, with PM2.5 concentrations at 128.2 micrograms per cubic meter, 25 times higher than the World Health Organization’s recommended limit.
Delhi, a metropolis of over 30 million people and the capital region of India, recorded the second-worst air pollution levels in 2024, according to Visual Capitalist.
The city has long experienced some of the worst winter air pollution of any major city, with crop burning in nearby states, industrialization, increasing vehicle numbers, stagnant cold air, and weak wind patterns trapping and condensing smog in the capital.
In addition, many Indian cities struggle with severe air pollution due to industrial emissions, vehicle exhaust, and the use of large amounts of fossil fuels, which is worsened by weak controls and seasonal weather patterns.
It is worth noting that most of the cities with the worst air pollution in 2024 are located in India, Pakistan, or other parts of Asia, which calls into question their caution in this regard.
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