Poorest areas bear brunt of air pollution, US study shows
GuardianMAR 17 2022
Report: Only Seven Nations in the World Breathe Clean Air
Above: People crossing amidst heavy smog at Dwarka, on Jan. 9, 2025 in New Delhi, India. Image copyright: Vipin Kumar/Contributor/Hindustan Times via Getty Images
The Facts
Only seven countries — Australia, New Zealand, the Bahamas, Barbados, Grenada, Estonia, and Iceland — met the World Health Organization's air quality guidelines for PM2.5 levels in 2024, while 126 countries exceeded the recommended limit of 5 micrograms per cubic meter.
According to a report released Tuesday by IQAir, Chad ranked as the world's most polluted country with PM2.5 levels of 91.8 micrograms per cubic meter, followed by Bangladesh at 78.0, and Pakistan at 73.7.
Six of the world's 10 most polluted cities were located in India, with Byrnihat (a city in Assam) recording the highest PM2.5 concentration of 128.2 micrograms per cubic meter.
The Spin
Narrative A
The world is making measurable progress in combating air pollution, with more cities meeting WHO guidelines and major improvements being made in countries like India and China. The expansion of air quality monitoring networks and implementation of stricter emission controls demonstrate the growing global commitment to addressing this crisis.
Narrative B
The stark disparities in air quality between developed and developing nations, combined with significant data gaps and the recent shutdown of US monitoring programs, highlight how the world's poorest regions continue to bear the greatest burden of air pollution while lacking the resources to address it effectively.
Narrative C
Air pollution may be the world’s leading environmental cause of illness and premature death, but dirty air and climate change are two sides of the same coin. Only by tackling them jointly, particularly in low—and middle-income countries, can the world strengthen human capital and reduce poverty.