According to the World Air Quality report released on Tuesday, by Swiss firm IQAir, India ranked third with worst air quality. 83 of the 100 most populated cities are in India, with climate change pivotal role in bad air quality. All 83 cities exceeded the World Health Organisation’s air quality guidelines by more than ten times.
World Air Quality Report
The IQAir, World Air Quality report looks specifically at fine particulate matter or PM2.5, which is the tiniest but most dangerous pollutant.
According to a report, only nine percent of more than 7,800 cities recorded air quality that met WHO standards. The WHO standard says average annual levels of PM2.5 should not exceed five micrograms per cubic meter.
PM2.5 goes deep into the lung tissue where it can enter the bloodstream when it is inhaled and comes from sources such as dust storms, wildfires, and the combustion of fossil fuels and has been linked to serious respiratory illnesses, lung diseases, asthma, heart, cancer, and cognitive impairment in children.
10 Most Polluted Countries
As per IQAir, which tracks air quality worldwide, Bangladesh is at the top with the worst air quality, Pakistan ranked second and India ranked third as the most polluted country among 134 countries. 
Tajikistan ranked fourth, Burkina Faso, Iraq, United Arab Emirates, Nepal, Egypt, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, are in the tenth position as the most polluted country.
India Ranked Third with Worst Air Quality
India ranked third as the country with the worst air quality, moreover, of the 50 most polluted cities in the world, 42 were Indian cities.
- The Most Polluted Metropolitan Area
According to the report, Bihar’s Begusarai is the world’s most polluted metropolitan area at an average PM2.5 concentration of 118.9 micrograms per cubic meter surpassing all other metropolitan areas, followed by Guwahati.
- The Most Populated Capital City
India’s capital city, Delhi has again been designated as a capital city with the poorest air quality at PM2.5 concentration of 92.7 micrograms per cubic meter, worst from last year’s PM2.5 concentration of 89.1 micrograms per cubic meter.
Since 2018, Delhi has maintained the title of the most populated capital city for the fourth consecutive year. The Smaller capital of New Delhi was in sixth position globally and across the NCR (National Capital Region), Delhi was followed by Greater Noida at 11th position and Gurugram at 17th position in the list of the world’s most polluted cities.
Also read: India will become the biggest driver of global oil demand, overtaking China by 2027: IEA Report
