A recent IQAir report ranks India among the most polluted countries, with 13 of the top 20 polluted cities globally. Byrnihat, on the border of Assam and Meghalaya is identified as the most polluted city.

Key Findings:

1. India’s Global Rank: 5th most polluted country (improved from 3rd in 2023).
2. 5 Levels: National average 50.6 µg/m³ (7% decrease), but Delhi remains highly polluted at 91.6 µg/m³.
3. Most Polluted Cities: Byrnihat, Delhi, Mullanpur, Faridabad, Loni, Gurugram, Noida, and others, exceeding WHO PM2.5 limits by over 10 times.

Health Impact:

5. Life expectancy reduced by 2 years due to air pollution.
6. 5 million deaths annually (2009–2019) linked to PM2.5 exposure (Lancet Planetary Health study).
7. Severe health risks: Respiratory diseases, heart conditions, and cancer due to fine particulate matter penetrating the lungs and bloodstream.