22 of the 30 Most Polluted Cities in the World Are in India

According to research conducted by two institutes that examined pollution levels in 61 capitals around the world, New Delhi, the capital of India, was the most polluted city in the world in 2018. This research was carried out by 'IQAir Visual', a Swiss organization that collects data on air quality worldwide, and 'Greenpeace', particularly regarding toxic particles known as PM 2.5. Following New Delhi, with a population of over 20 million, Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, and Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, rank second and third. According to these organizations, of the 30 most polluted cities in the world, 22 are in India. The main factors contributing to air pollution in New Delhi include vehicle and factory emissions, construction dust, and the burning of waste and agricultural residues in the surrounding areas. In 2018, the concentration of toxic PM 2.5 particles in the air of this city was 113.5 micrograms per cubic meter, more than double the pollution level in Beijing (approximately 51 micrograms per cubic meter), which ranks eighth in terms of air pollution. These particles, which have a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less, are extremely dangerous due to their ability to penetrate deep into the lungs. The World Health Organization's established standard for relative air quality is a maximum of 25 micrograms per cubic meter. According to CNN, Yeb Sano, the executive director of Greenpeace in Southeast Asia, stated, 'Air pollution is consuming our lives and our future. In addition to loss of life, estimates suggest that $225 billion of the global workforce is lost, while trillions of dollars are spent on treatment in this area. This issue has enormous effects on our health and our finances.' In the past, air pollution in Chinese cities was a serious problem, but it seems that in recent years, with increased government attention and the adoption of new regulations to control pollution, this issue has somewhat diminished. The two organizations stated in their joint report, 'These measures in China have significantly impacted the reduction of air pollution from these harmful particles.' A spokesperson for Greenpeace India said, 'The main question is whether there is currently the political will in India to seriously address this public health emergency and move away from polluting fuels and methods.'