Shocking Report: 14 Indian Cities Among the Most Polluted in the World

Indian cities continue to top the list of the world’s most polluted areas, despite a slight improvement in air quality in 2024, according to a new report by the Swiss company IQAir, supported by the organization Greenpeace.

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The report reveals that PM2.5 fine particle levels in India averaged 50.6 micrograms per cubic meter, which is ten times the limit recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). Although this concentration decreased by 7% compared to 2023, 14 of the 20 most polluted cities globally remain Indian.

The main causes of pollution in India include industrial emissions, vehicle exhaust, agricultural burning, and unregulated waste disposal. N’Djamena, the capital of Chad, ranked as the most polluted city in the world, occupying the 7th global position, followed by New Delhi, ranked 9th, surpassing Dhaka, Kinshasa, and Islamabad.

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The report is based on data collected from over 40,000 air quality monitoring stations across 8,954 locations in 138 countries and territories, with one-third managed by government agencies. It did not rely on satellite data or digital models, making it more accurate in tracking ground-level pollution.

Chad, which was not included in the 2023 report, has become the most polluted country in the world in 2024, with an average pollution level of 91.8 micrograms per cubic meter, primarily due to the influence of the Bodélé Depression, a major source of dust. It was followed by Bangladesh, Pakistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and India.

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However, the ranking did not cover all polluted nations. Burkina Faso, which was the 5th most polluted country in 2023, along with Iran and Afghanistan, was excluded due to a lack of data.

Despite this grim picture, only seven countries recorded pollution levels below the WHO-recommended threshold: Estonia, Iceland, Australia, New Zealand, as well as the Bahamas, Grenada, and Barbados in the Caribbean.

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The report does indicate some progress, as 17% of the cities surveyed met WHO standards in 2024, compared to just 9% in 2023.

It is worth noting that air pollution, both outdoor and indoor, was the leading environmental cause of premature death in 2021, resulting in 8.1 million deaths, according to the “State of Global Air 2024” report, published by the U.S.-based Health Effects Institute and Health Metrics and Evaluation Institute.

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