India dropped from the fifth spot in 2017, it still became the eighth-most polluted country in the world in 2022
In a research titled "Global Air Quality," published recently by the Swiss company IQAir, India is ranked as the eighth most polluted nation in the world in 2022, down from the fifth position in 2017. The research shows that the PM2.5 level in the most polluted Indian cities is 53.3. However, India improved its position as it dropped from 5th to 8th place, the survey added.
According to the survey, India is home to 39 of the world's 50 most polluted cities. In a list of the top 50 polluted cities worldwide, Delhi came in at number four. According to the report, the PM2.5 level was close to 20 times the recommended limit.
Meanwhile, NCR regions including Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram and Faridabad have observed a drop in pollution levels.
Bhiwadi in Rajasthan came in at 92.7 with Delhi not far behind at 92.6.
After Delhi, Kolkata was deemed to be the most polluted among the six major cities. The cleanest city, according to reports, is Chennai, where pollution is "only" five times the WHO-recommended threshold. According to the report, pollution levels in the major cities of Hyderabad and Bengaluru have risen above the national average during 2017.
Based on the concentration of lung-damaging airborne particles known as PM2.5, IQAir gauges the quality of the air. Its yearly poll is frequently acknowledged by academics and governmental agencies.
The World Health Organization (WHO) advises a maximum PM2.5 concentration of 5 micrograms per cubic metre.
In the Central and South Asian region, where approximately 60% of the population resides in places where the concentration of PM2.5 particles is at least seven times greater than WHO-recommended values, the survey stated that India and Pakistan had the poorest air quality.
Lahore is now the most polluted city in the world as its air quality deteriorated to 97.4 micrograms of PM2.5 particles per cubic metre from 86.5 in 2021.
In 2022, Pakistan had two of the five cities with the worst air quality. Pakistan ranked third nationally with a score of 70.9, followed by Bahrain with a score of 66.6.
Lahore was followed by Hotan, the only Chinese city in the top 20, with PM2.5 readings of 94.3, a decrease from 101.5 in 2021.
Bangladesh's air quality has improved since it was named the nation with the worst air in 2021. Its PM2.5 readings dropped from 76.9 to 65.8 in the recent data has moved up to fifth place.
According to the report, one in ten individuals worldwide reside in areas where air pollution poses a risk to their health.
Data from more than 30,000 air quality monitors in more than 7,300 locations throughout 131 nations, territories, and regions were used to create the index.