Pollution is defined as the existence of pollutants in the environment that have the potential to harm the natural environment. The two most visible types of pollution are air pollution and water pollution, while there are several additional types. According to the research, air pollution levels in 97 percent of all cities throughout the globe exceed the World Health Organization’s guidelines. Read the article to know about World Air Quality Index 2023 Most Polluted Air Cities around the world.
World Air Quality Index 2023
More than 76 percent of India’s population lives in places where the national ambient world air quality index limits are permanently exceeded. On the other hand, people have yet to demand clean air from their elected officials and representatives.
As a result, it has never made it into the mainstream political agenda or the public conversation during any election or political campaign. In 2019, a few political parties included it in their election manifestos for the first time, marking a significant step forward.
| Major city | US AQI | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lahore, Pakistan | 251 |
| 2 | Warsaw, Poland | 178 |
| 3 | Poznan, Poland | 171 |
| 4 | Wroclaw, Poland | 171 |
| 5 | Krakow, Poland | 170 |
| 6 | Dhaka, Bangladesh | 167 |
| 7 | Delhi, India | 165 |
| 8 | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | 162 |
| 9 | Mumbai, India | 160 |
| 10 | Kathmandu, Nepal | 154 |
| 11 | Beijing, China | 152 |
| 12 | Shenyang, China | 148 |
| 13 | Zagreb, Croatia | 145 |
| 14 | London, United Kingdom | 135 |
| 15 | Kuwait City, Kuwait | 134 |
| 16 | Amsterdam, Netherlands | 121 |
| 17 | Busan, South Korea | 107 |
| 18 | Dubai, United Arab Emirates | 105 |
| 19 | Sarajevo, Bosnia Herzegovina | 102 |
| 20 | Kaohsiung, Taiwan | 102 |
| 21 | Kolkata, India | 98 |
| 22 | Rotterdam, Netherlands | 92 |
| 23 | Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia | 89 |
| 24 | Brussels, Belgium | 87 |
| 25 | Karachi, Pakistan | 86 |
| 26 | Skopje, North Macedonia | 83 |
| 27 | Hangzhou, China | 82 |
| 28 | Paris, France | 81 |
| 29 | Tokyo, Japan | 81 |
| 30 | Bratislava, Slovakia | 80 |
| 31 | Helsinki, Finland | 80 |
| 32 | Berlin, Germany | 80 |
| 33 | Kyiv, Ukraine | 80 |
| 34 | Chengdu, China | 79 |
| 35 | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | 78 |
| 36 | Belgrade, Serbia | 78 |
| 37 | Bern, Switzerland | 76 |
| 38 | Budapest, Hungary | 76 |
| 39 | Tashkent, Uzbekistan | 74 |
| 40 | Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel | 74 |
| 41 | Bogota, Colombia | 74 |
| 42 | Vienna, Austria | 74 |
| 43 | Jakarta, Indonesia | 72 |
| 44 | Shanghai, China | 71 |
| 45 | Wuhan, China | 68 |
| 46 | Prague, Czech Republic | 67 |
| 47 | Bangkok, Thailand | 67 |
| 48 | Kabul, Afghanistan | 63 |
| 49 | Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan | 63 |
| 50 | Tehran, Iran | 59 |
Air contamination kills approximately a million people per year, accounting for 17 percent of all fatalities in the United States as a direct or indirect effect of the pollution. Those with higher educational levels are similarly affected by the pollution. Academics and experts spend a lot of time discussing abstract concepts like air quality index and economic efficiency.
Air pollution and its impact
The combustion of fossil fuels is the primary source of air pollution. The most significant contributions are fossil-fuel-powered vehicles (cars, trucks, airplanes, ships, and other similar vehicles) and coal- or oil-burning power plants and industries.
Any action that includes the burning of wood or fossil fuels, on the other hand, has the potential to emit particulate matter. It includes sources found in the home, such as tobacco products, stoves and ovens, candles, and fires, among other things. Volcanoes and wildfires are both known to be significant contributors to air pollution.
Air pollution contributes to various health concerns, including breathing difficulties, asthma flare-ups, and congenital disabilities. Globally, toxic contamination, according to various sources, is one of the most significant risk factors for noncommunicable diseases (NCDs).
Noncommunicable diseases account for 72 percent of all fatalities, with toxic pollution accounting for 16 percent of all deaths caused by toxic pollution. It is estimated that toxic pollution is responsible for 22% of all cardiovascular disease fatalities, 25% of all heart attack deaths, 40% of all lung cancer deaths, and 53% of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease deaths.
20 Most polluted cities in the World
- Bhiwadi, India
- Ghaziabad, India
- Hotan, China
- Delhi, India
- Jaunpur, India
- Faisalabad, Pakistan
- Noida, India
- Bahawalpur, Pakistan
- Peshawar, Pakistan
- Bagpat, India
- Hisar, India
- Faridabad, India
- Greater Noida
- Rohtak, India
- Lahore, Pakistan
- Lucknow, India
- Jind, India
- Gurugram, India
- Kashgar, India
- Kanpur, India
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the air quality index compare to other indices?
A scale of 0 to 500 represents the AQI. AQI values above 50 indicate higher levels of air pollution and more significant health risks. An AQI value below 50 indicates healthy air. When it rises above 300, it is considered hazardous.
Which place on earth has the cleanest air?
Denmark. Denmark’s 82.5% EPI score makes it the most environmentally friendly and cleanest country in 2020. Several categories in which Denmark ranks well, including waste management (99.8), waste treatment (100), and species protection index (100), stand out.
Is there a city in Asia that has the cleanest air?
The village of Mawlynnong is known for its cleanliness and has been dubbed the cleanest village in Asia. God’s Own Garden is another name given to this village. About 90 kilometers southeast of Shillong, it is situated in the Khasi Hills of Meghalaya. Smoking and polythene use is prohibited.
Which country has the happiest people?
Finland has been voted the happiest country globally for the fifth straight year, and other European countries join it in the annual World Happiness Report.
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