Worlds 10 Most polluted cities: HEI Report

Climate Kahani HEI Report: The wheel of development all over the world is spinning at such a speed that despite all the efforts, it is leaving behind a cloud of deadly winds. Yes, at present people living in all the big cities of the world are breathing deadly air. An analysis of air quality in 7000 cities across the world also shows that our country's capital Delhi comes first when it comes to PM 2.5 levels.

Health Effects Institute (HEI Report) on Air Quality

In fact, according to a new report published by the US-based research organization Health Effects Institute (HEI), the world's largest cities and urban areas are currently facing the worst air quality. This new report, titled Air Quality and Health in Cities, released by HEI's State of Global Air Initiative, provides a comprehensive and detailed analysis of air pollution and global health impacts for more than 7,000 cities around the world and includes two of the most harmful pollutants. In this report Fine Particulate Matter (PM 2.5) and Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), have been focused.

HEI Report: 1.7 Million deaths in 2019

In 2019, there were 1.7 million PM 2.5-related deaths in the 7,239 cities analyzed that year, and cities in Asia, Africa, and Eastern and Central Europe had the most public health impacts due to PM 2.5.

It is estimated that by the year 2050, 68 percent of the world's population will live in urban areas. This rapid urbanization puts the world's top cities at the fore in the fight to reduce the health effects of air pollution, especially in low- and middle-income countries.

The report, using data from 2010 to 2019, found that global patterns of exposure to the two major air pollutants are surprisingly different. While the risk of PM 2.5 pollution is higher in low- and middle-income countries, NO2 is a threat in high-income as well as low- and middle-class cities.

HEI Report: NO 2 Pollution

NO 2 comes primarily from the burning of fuels often used in older vehicles, power plants, industrial facilities, and residential cooking and heating. Since city dwellers live closer to busy roads with dense traffic, they are often exposed to more NO 2 pollution than residents of rural areas.

In 2019, 86% of the more than 7,000 cities included in this report exceeded the WHO's 10 µg/m3 guideline for NO2, affecting about 2.6 billion people. While PM 2.5 pollution attracts more attention to known hotspots around the world, less data is available for NO 2 at this global scale.

“Since most cities around the world do not have ground-based air quality monitoring, particulate matter, or particulate and gas, can be used to create air quality management plans,” says Dr. Susan Anenberg of George Washington University, one of the collaborators on this report project. Estimating pollution levels helps us formulate policies for clean and safe air to breathe.”

HEI Report: Unavailability of data

The report also highlights the unavailability of data in low- and middle-income countries, an important aspect of understanding and addressing the health effects of air pollution. According to the WHO's air quality database, currently only 117 countries have a ground level monitoring system to track PM 2.5, and only 74 nations are monitoring NO 2 levels. Strategic investments in ground-level air quality monitoring systems and the expanded use of satellites and other emerging technologies in target areas could provide an important first step towards cleaner air. The report combines ground-based air quality data with satellites and models to produce air quality estimates for cities around the world.

Along with the report, HEI also launched a new online interactive map and data app that allows users to view city-level air pollution data and health impacts. Breathing even low levels of pollution over time can cause a myriad of health effects, including reduced life expectancy, school and work loss, chronic diseases, and even death, which affect communities and economies around the world. exerts heavy pressure. Worldwide, air pollution is responsible for one in nine deaths, accounting for 6.7 million deaths in 2019, with a particularly severe impact on the young, the elderly and people with chronic respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.

What is the action for progress?

As global urbanization continues to increase, air pollution will continue to cause significant problems, especially in cities with fewer resources. But some cities are seeing success as they address their pollution problems. In Europe, for example, more than 300 cities have created low-emission zones (LEZs) for vehicles, leading to a drop in traffic air pollution. Other cities are establishing or expanding stricter clean air policies that target vehicle fuel efficiency and reduce emissions from coal-fired power plants.

China's strict controls

In response to past and continuing high levels of air pollution, Beijing, China has implemented stricter controls on coal-fired power plants over the past ten years, while maintaining stringent vehicle emissions and fuel quality standards to prevent traffic-related pollution. The city increased its aerial monitoring stations from 35 in 2013 to more than 1,000 in 2019, documenting a 36% drop in the city's annual average PM 2.5 level in just five years. Of the top 20 cities showing the largest decline in NO 2 exposure over the past decade, 18 are in China. Despite these improvements, Beijing still ranks among the top 20 most polluted cities for both PM 2.5 and NO 2.

The Health Effects Initiative

The State of Global Air (SoGA) is a research initiative that provides reliable, meaningful information about air quality and its health impacts around the world. The report, produced in collaboration with the Health Effects Initiative and the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation's Global Burden of Disease project, gives the public, policy makers, and scientists access to high-quality, objective information about air pollution exposure and its health effects. Is. The Health Effects Initiative (HEI) is an independent, non-profit research institution jointly funded by the US Environmental Protection Agency, industry, and other institutions.

Support us to keep independent environmental journalism alive in India.

Keep Reading

MP farmers battle stray animals, sleepless nights to protect crops

Indore’s Pipliyahana Lake struggles to survive, even after conservation measures

Costliest water from Narmada is putting financial burden on Indore

Changing weather pattern impacts soybean crops in Dewas region of MP

Follow Ground Report on X, Instagram and Facebook for environmental and underreported stories from the margins. Give us feedback on our email id [email protected]. 

Don't forget to Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, Join our community on WhatsApp, Follow our Youtube Channel for video stories.