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World Air Quality Report 2024
Context
A recent report by the Swiss air quality monitoring company IQAir has ranked Delhi as the world's most polluted national capital for the sixth consecutive year. The 2024 World Air Quality Report highlights that 13 of the world’s 20 most polluted cities are in India.
India’s Air Pollution Crisis
- Most Polluted City in the World: Byrnihat, located on the Assam-Meghalaya border, recorded the highest PM2.5 concentration of 128.2 µg/m³.
- Delhi’s Pollution Levels: The capital recorded an annual PM2.5 average of 91.6 µg/m³, nearly unchanged from 2023 (92.7 µg/m³).
- India’s Rank: India was the fifth most polluted country in the world, with an average PM2.5 concentration of 50.6 µg/m³.
- Global Pollution Trends
- The world's most polluted countries in 2024 were Chad, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Congo, and India.
- Only 12 countries met the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended PM2.5 limit of 5 µg/m³, most of them in Latin America, the Caribbean, and Oceania.
- 17% of the 8,954 cities worldwide reported air quality within safe limits.
What is PM2.5 and Why is it Dangerous?
- 5 (particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns) is one of the most hazardous air pollutants. It originates from fossil fuel combustion, vehicular emissions, industrial activities, and crop burning. These fine particles can:
- Cause respiratory diseases, chronic kidney issues, cancer, stroke, and heart attacks.
- Penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream, causing long-term health damage.
- Major Pollution Sources in India
- Crop Burning: Responsible for 60% of pollution during peak seasons in Delhi and surrounding northern states.
- Vehicular Emissions: A major contributor, especially in metro cities.
- Industrial Discharges: Power plants, factories, and refineries release pollutants into the air.
- Construction Dust: Large-scale urban expansion leads to increased dust pollution.
- Seasonal Air Pollution Trends
- January 2024: Delhi and Himachal Pradesh witnessed extremely poor air quality.
- November 2024: Punjab, Chandigarh, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh experienced extreme pollution levels due to stubble burning.
What Can Be Done?
- Strengthen Air Quality Policies: Implement stricter emission norms for industries and vehicles.
- Promote Clean Energy: Encourage renewable energy sources like solar and wind power.
- Public Transport & Green Mobility: Expand metro networks, improve bus services, and promote electric vehicles.
- Crop Management Solutions: Incentivize farmers to adopt alternative methods to crop burning.
- Public Awareness: Educate citizens on pollution sources and preventive measures.
PYQQ. In the cities of our country, which among the following atmospheric gases are normally considered in calculating the value of the Air Quality Index? (2016)
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Solution: (b) |
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