Introduction: World Air Quality Report 2023

A recent report by Swiss organisation IQAir identifies India as the world’s third most polluted country.

Key Highlights: India's Air Quality Situation

  1. India ranks third in terms of being the most polluted country globally, with a PM2.5 concentration of 54.4 micrograms per cubic metre, which is a significant pollution indicator.
  2. Bangladesh and Pakistan are the first and second most polluted countries, thereby surpassing India.
  3. Among the world's top 10 most polluted cities, nine are in India.
  4. Delhi has held the title of the world's most polluted capital city for the fourth consecutive year.
  5. Begusarai in Bihar is found to be the world's most polluted metropolitan area.

Health Impacts and WHO Guidelines

  1. About 96% of India's population is exposed to PM2.5 concentration levels seven times higher than the World Health Organisation's (WHO) recommended levels.
  2. Over two-thirds of Indian cities have reported annual averages above the safe threshold.
  3. PM2.5 pollution is associated with a higher occurrence of heart diseases and oxidative stress.

Global Air Quality Scenario

  1. Seven nations, including Australia, Estonia, Finland, Grenada, Iceland, Mauritius, and New Zealand, have met the WHO's PM2.5 annual guideline.
  2. Africa, despite its large population, continues to face a significant data gap in air quality, thereby hindering targeted interventions.
  3. Countries like China and Chile boast reduced PM2.5 pollution levels, indicating successful strategies to combat air pollution.

Global Impact of Air Pollution

  1. Air pollution contributes to around seven million early deaths globally, each year.
  2. It is implicated in one out of nine deaths worldwide.
  3. Exposure to fine particles could lead to several health complications, including mental health issues and cognitive impairment in children.

WHO Air Quality Guidelines

  1. WHO regularly revises its air quality guidelines to shield public health from the persisting threat of air pollution.
  2. The guidelines cover multiple pollutants, including those of particulates (PM2.5 and PM10) and gases (O3, NO2, SO2, CO).

Understanding Particulate Matter (PM)

  1. PM constitutes a complex mix of minuscule particles and liquid droplets suspended in the air.
  2. They can be differentiated based on their size - PM10 and PM2.5, referring to particles with diameters less than 10 and 2.5 micrometres, respectively.

Consequences of Air Pollution

  1. Pollution causes respiratory diseases and leads to high mortality rates.
  2. According to WHO data, 99% of the global population breathes air exceeding guideline limits, with the poorest countries suffering the most.
  3. Air quality is crucial for climate and ecosystems. Policies to curb air pollution offer a win-win strategy for climate and health.
  4. Notably, all Indians face exposure to harmful levels of PM2.5.
  5. The economic cost of pollution, due to premature deaths and morbidity, accounted for economic losses of USD 36.8 billion, approximately 1.36% of India's GDP.