In 2024, Bangladesh and Chad topped the list as the most polluted countries, with smog levels over 15 times higher than WHO guidelines. Only seven nations met WHO air quality standards. The recent closure of a US monitoring program has raised concerns regarding air quality data accessibility in developing regions, particularly in Africa. Experts insist that without reliable data, efforts to improve air quality will be severely hindered.
In 2024, Bangladesh and Chad emerged as the most polluted countries globally, with smog levels exceeding World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines by over 15 times. This alarming data comes from Swiss air quality monitoring firm IQAir, which noted that only seven nations, namely Australia, New Zealand, the Bahamas, Barbados, Grenada, Estonia, and Iceland, met WHO’s air quality standards.
Significant gaps in air quality data persist in Asia and Africa, primarily due to many developing nations relying on air quality sensors stationed at US embassies. The US State Department’s recent termination of this program, citing budgetary limitations, has raised serious concerns regarding the future of air quality monitoring in these regions.
Christi Chester-Schroeder, IQAir’s air quality science manager, highlighted that this reduction in data sources will severely impact Africa, where such sensors often represent the only publicly accessible real-time air quality information. Chad was previously omitted from IQAir’s 2023 report due to similar data concerns, though it had been recognized as the most polluted nation in 2022, largely due to Sahara dust and uncontrolled agricultural burning.
In India, the average PM2.5 levels improved by 7% to reach 50.6 mg/cu m, positioning the country fifth in smog rankings, trailing behind Chad, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. A specific area, Byrnihat in Meghalaya, recorded an alarming PM2.5 concentration of 128 mg/cu m. Climate change continues to exacerbate air pollution, with rising temperatures contributing to more severe and prolonged forest fires across Southeast Asia and South America.
Christa Hasenkopf, Director of the Clean Air Program at the University of Chicago’s Energy Policy Institute (EPIC), remarked that the closure of the US monitoring program would limit reliable pollution data access for at least 34 countries. This initiative had previously enhanced air quality in monitored cities, increased life expectancy, and minimized hazard allowances for US diplomats. Hasenkopf characterized the termination of the program as “a giant blow to air quality efforts worldwide.”
The data from 2024 indicates a troubling trend in global air quality, with Bangladesh and Chad unequivocally leading as the most polluted nations. The closure of the US air quality monitoring program poses a significant threat to data accessibility in developing countries, particularly in Asia and Africa, thereby undermining global air quality management efforts. Continued attention and action are imperative to address these challenges and improve air quality standards worldwide.
Original Source: www.newsbytesapp.com
