The World Air Quality Report 2024/वर्ल्ड एयर क्वालिटी रिपोर्ट 2024:

Why in news ? 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

Key Points:

1. New Delhi:

   • It is ranked as the world’s most polluted capital city with an average PM2.5 concentration of 91.5 μg/m³ in 2024.
   • It has held this position consistently, except for 2022.

2. Meghalaya’s Byrnihat:

   • This city has been identified as the world’s most polluted city, surpassing others in terms of PM2.5 pollution.

3. Top Polluted Capitals:

   • The report lists New Delhi (91.5), N’Djamena (Chad – 89.7), Dhaka (Bangladesh – 78.1), and Kinshasa (Congo – 58.2) as the most polluted capital cities globally.

4. Top Polluted Countries:

   • The most polluted countries are:
     • Bangladesh (77.1 μg/m³),
     • Pakistan (70.9 μg/m³),
     • India (53.3 μg/m³), and
     • Congo (52.7 μg/m³).

5. India’s Air Pollution:

   • India’s air pollution is attributed to industrial emissions, power generation, vehicle emissions, construction, biomass burning, agriculture, and waste management practices.
   • The annual average PM2.5 level in India for 2024 was reported as 53.3 μg/m³, which exceeds the WHO’s safe level of 5 μg/m³ by a significant margin.

6. Global Comparison:

   • PM2.5 pollution is a major health concern as it includes fine particulate matter that can penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream, causing respiratory and cardiovascular issues.

Conclusion:

The report underscores the urgency for stronger air quality regulations and pollution control measures in cities like New Delhi and countries such as India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan to address the health hazards posed by high PM2.5 level.