83% Of Cities Fail Air Standards: Pollution Linked To Cancer, Heart Disease, Alzheimer’s – News18
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The report found that the worst air pollution levels were recorded in Chad, Congo, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India.
Byrnihat, a heavily industrial town in northeastern India, is the most polluted city in the world.
Only 17% of cities worldwide meet the air pollution guidelines set for healthy living, a new report has revealed. This means that billions of people are inhaling air polluted with harmful toxins daily. The study, conducted by Switzerland-based air quality database IQAir, analysed data from 40,000 monitoring stations across 138 countries, and the results were alarming.
The report found that the worst air pollution levels were recorded in Chad, Congo, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India. Among these, India stood out, with six of the world’s nine most polluted cities. Byrnihat, a heavily industrial town in northeastern India, topped the list as the most polluted city globally.
But the real picture could be even worse. Many regions lack sufficient air monitoring stations, leaving vast areas unaccounted for. Africa, for example, has just one air quality monitor for every 3.7 million people, meaning entire communities may be breathing hazardous air without official recognition, reported AP.
Air pollution is a major public health crisis linked to respiratory diseases, heart problems, and millions of premature deaths annually. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has repeatedly called for urgent action to curb pollution, warning that long-term exposure can cause irreversible damage to human health.
Effects On Health And Climate Change
The consequences of long-term exposure to polluted air are devastating. It’s not just about difficulty breathing, it’s about life and death. Chronic respiratory diseases, Alzheimer’s and even cancer have all been linked to air pollution, said Fatimah Ahamad, chief scientist at Malaysia’s Sunway Centre for Planetary Health. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), air pollution kills around seven million people every single year.
According to WHO data, nearly the entire global population, nearly 99%, is breathing air that surpasses the organisation’s recommended pollution limits. This means billions of people are exposed to harmful pollutants, with those in low- and middle-income countries facing the worst conditions.
WHO also points out that air quality and the planet’s climate are deeply interconnected. Many major sources of air pollution, such as the burning of fossil fuels, also release greenhouse gases that drive global warming. As a result, tackling air pollution isn’t just about improving health, it’s also a crucial step in addressing climate change. Policies aimed at cutting pollution can serve a dual purpose: reducing diseases linked to poor air quality while also playing a role in both immediate and long-term climate mitigation efforts.
