• World Air Quality Report 2023 was released by Swiss organisation IQAir.
• The report looked at data from more than 30,000 air quality monitoring stations across 7,812 locations in 134 countries, territories, and regions and tracked 5 concentrations – fine particulate aerosol particles measuring up to 2.5 microgrammes per cubic metre – to understand the exposure to the people living in the specific area and determine a population-weighted exposure level.

MAJOR FINDINGS

• India has emerged as the world’s third most polluted country.
• In 2023, India’s air quality, with an average annual PM2.5 concentration of 54.4 micrograms per cubic metre, was better than only two countries – Bangladesh(most polluted) and Pakistan(2^nd most polluted).
• Meanwhile, Bihar’s Begusarai was termed the world’s most polluted metropolitan area with an average PM2.5 concentration of 118.9 micrograms per cubic metre.
  • It was followed by Guwahati and Union territory of Delhi.
• Delhi, on the other hand, became the capital city with the poorest air quality, according to the IQAir report. Delhi’s 5 levels worsened to 92.7 micrograms per cubic metre in 2023.
  • This is the fourth consecutive time Delhi has emerged as the world’s most polluted capital city.
• Ten out of the top 11 most polluted cities in the world are from India, the other being Lahore in Pakistan.
  • Of the 50 most polluted cities in the world, 42 were Indian.

• About 96% of the Indian population face PM2.5 levels levels that are seven times higher than the recommended levels.
• The WHO has set the annual guideline level at 5 micrograms per cubic metre.