Assam's Byrnihat tops global pollution list; Delhi most polluted capital: Report

NEW DELHI: Thirteen of the world's top 20 most polluted cities are in India, with Byrnihat in Assam topping the list, according to a new report published on Tuesday. The World Air Quality Report 2024 by Swiss air quality technology company IQAir said Delhi remains the most polluted capital city globally, while India ranked as the world's fifth most polluted country in 2024, down from third in 2023. Four cities in neighbouring Pakistan and one in China are among the world's top 20 polluted cities. The report said India saw a 7 per cent decline in PM2.5 concentrations in 2024, averaging 50.6 micrograms per cubic metre, compared to 54.4 micrograms per cubic metre in 2023. Yet, 13 of the world's 20 most polluted cities are in India. Air pollution in Delhi worsened, with the annual average PM2.5 concentration rising from 102.4 micrograms per cubic metre in 2023 to 108.3 micrograms per cubic metre in 2024. The Indian cities in the world's top 20 most polluted cities are Byrnihat, Delhi, Punjab's Mullanpur, Faridabad, Loni, Gurugram, Ganganagar, Greater Noida, Bhiwadi, Muzaffarnagar, Hanumangarh and Noida. Overall, 35 per cent of the Indian cities reported annual PM2.5 levels exceeding 10 times the WHO limit of 5 micrograms per cubic metre, the report said. The high level of pollution in Byrnihat, a town on the border of Assam and Meghalaya, is due to emissions from local factories, including distilleries, iron and steel plants. Delhi grapples with high air pollution year-round and the problem worsens in winter when unfavourable meteorological conditions, combined with vehicular emissions, paddy-straw burning, firecrackers and other local pollution sources, make the air quality hazardous. Air pollution remains a serious health risk in India, reducing life expectancy by an estimated 5.2 years. According to a Lancet Planetary Health study published last year, about 1.5 million deaths in India every year from 2009 to 2019 were potentially linked to long-term exposure to PM2.5 pollution. PM2.5 refers to tiny air pollution particles smaller than 2.5 microns, which can enter the lungs and bloodstream, leading to breathing problems, heart disease and even cancer. Sources include vehicle exhaust, industrial emissions and the burning of wood or crop waste. Former WHO chief scientist and health ministry advisor Soumya Swaminathan said India has made progress in air quality data collection but lacks sufficient action. We have the data; now we need action. Some solutions are easy like replacing biomass with LPG. India already has a scheme for this, but we must further subsidise additional cylinders. The first cylinder is free, but the poorest families, especially women, should receive higher subsidies. This will improve their health and reduce outdoor air pollution, she told PTI in an interview. In cities, expanding public transport and imposing fines on certain cars could help. A mix of incentives and penalties is necessary, she said. Finally, strict enforcement of emission laws is crucial. Industries and construction sites must comply with regulations and install equipment to cut emissions instead of taking shortcuts, the former director general of the Indian Council of Medical Research added.

Indias 'poor' air quality is alarming, New Delhi ranks as the most polluted city of the world

The AQI 2024 Worlds most polluted countries list is here, and the data reveals that the list of top 10 has nine spots occupied by South Asian and Middle Eastern countries. Along with this, the list of most polluted cities also include names of Asian and African countries. Among the countries the first two spots are occupied by Bangladesh and Pakistan with AQI levels of 140 and 115 respectively. And India is giving them company at No.3 with average AQI levels of 111 falling in the poor category. Notably, an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 0-50 is good, AQI between 51-100 is moderate and between 100-150 is poor, according to the data by AQI.in website. Moreover, AQI between 150-200 is unhealthy, 200-250 as severe and when it is between 250 to 300 then it is hazardous. The top 4 th spot is occupied by Bahrain, with Nepal making it to 5 th . Bahrain recorded an AQI of 103 and Nepal at 100 in the year 2024. The only non-Asian country in the list of top 10 is Egypt, at the 6 th spot with an AQI of 91. United Arab Emirates (UAE) stood at no.7 (AQI 90), followed by Kuwait and Tajikistan at no.8 (with an AQI of 89 each) and Kyrgyzstan at 10 with its annual average AQI at 87. Worlds most polluted cities of 2024 This is not shocking as Indias capital city New Delhi is ranking at the top in the worlds most polluted cities of 2024. And it is not poor, it has unhealthy levels of AQI reported at 169, now being declared as the Global Capital of toxic air or Pollution. And it is not New Delhi alone, many other cities are a part of the list, the second in the ranks is Greater Noida with an average AQI of 166, Noida at 3 rd with its AQI 161, Ghaziabad at no.4 with AQI 159, and Faridabad at 5 th with AQI 154. The last five spots of Top 10 are also occupied with Indian cities only. These include Gurgaon at no.6 with AQI 154, Bhiwadi at no.7 with AQI 153, followed by Patna at no.8 with AQI 145 marked in poor category, Sonipat at no.9 with AQI 145 and Muzaffarnagar at no.10 with AQI 144. The top 50 list is dominated with Indian cities from North India. As per a report by Reuters, the states of North India like Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh have severe pollution levels, especially during the winter season when temperatures fall, cold air traps down emissions, construction dust and the farm fires are set off by the farmers. As per a report in aqi(dot)in, the air was so toxic that the PM2.5 levels were equal to residents breathing in over 1,400 cigarettes over an year. Dhaka is the only non- Indian city in the list upto Top 17, ranking at 13 th spot with an AQI of 140. Other cities in the Top 50 apart from the ones of India are Peshawar (Pakistan), Tachov (Czech Republic), Kashgar (China), and Lahore (Pakistan). This reflects upon how Indias struggle with air pollution is worsening with time, being at the 3 rd spot country wise and getting most of its cities listed, we are collapsing gradually. Out of the 145 cities of the world with worst air quality, 125 are from India, a figure shocking as well as worrying. The declining air quality is alarming for the country now. Growth and development arent supposed to come this way, ultimately it is the air that you breathe which will slowly kill you. It is concerning and demands attention of the authorities, the governments, the organizations as well as the people at large. The figures are prompting enough for a serious action, at the same time throwing light upon the fact that till now, there are no real signs of any improvement. It is a crisis now, posing serious threat to public health and might worsen if delayed. The tiny particles easily make their way to the lungs and bloodstream causing problems with breathing and heart disease as well. At present, we are rated poor, soon it will be unhealthy and then unbearable. Therefore, until we are not able to breathe anymore, its time for actionsustained efforts from all can only do the needful!