Report reveals true extent of air pollution crisis: Only 7 countries meet clean air standards

By avagrace // 2025-03-16

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A report by IQAir reveals that only seven countries meet World Health Organization air quality standards – with Chad, Bangladesh, Pakistan, India and the Democratic Republic of Congo having the most polluted air.
India alone hosts 13 of the world's 20 most polluted cities due to industrial emissions, vehicular pollution and urbanization.
The scale of air pollution is likely worse than reported, especially in Africa where monitoring infrastructure is severely lacking. The U.S. Department of State's decision to halt its global air quality monitoring program further exacerbates the issue, leaving many regions without reliable pollution data.
Air pollution causes seven million deaths annually – linked to respiratory diseases, heart conditions, Alzheimer's and cancer.
Some cities, like Beijing and Seoul, have improved air quality through strict regulations and cleaner energy investments. However, regions with weak regulatory systems still struggle. Over 9,000 new monitoring locations have been added globally, but more action is needed to address the crisis.

A shocking new report from Switzerland-based air quality monitoring database IQAir reveals that only seven countries meet the World Health Organization's (WHO) air quality standards. The findings, based on data from 40,000 monitoring stations across 138 countries, disclose that most of the world’s population is inhaling dangerously polluted air. They also paint a grim picture of a planet suffocating under the weight of its own progress. Chad, Bangladesh, Pakistan, India and the Democratic Republic of Congo top the list of nations with the dirtiest air. In these countries, the average smog levels are more than 15 times higher than WHO guidelines. Chad, for instance, earned the dubious distinction of being the most polluted country in 2022, a result of Sahara dust storms and rampant crop burning. Meanwhile, India – home to 13 of the world's 20 most polluted cities – continues to grapple with industrial emissions, vehicular pollution and unchecked urbanization. (Related: Air pollution in late pregnancy increases NICU admissions, study warns.) The report underscores a troubling reality: The scale of the problem is likely far worse than the data suggests. In Africa, for example, there is only one air quality monitoring station for every 3.7 million people. This lack of infrastructure means that millions are living in areas where pollution levels are not even measured, let alone addressed. The situation is further exacerbated by the recent decision of the U.S. Department of State to halt its air quality monitoring program at embassies and consulates worldwide. For many developing nations, these U.S.-operated monitors were the only reliable source of real-time pollution data.

Billions being denied the fundamental right to CLEAN AIR

The consequences of breathing polluted air are dire. Long-term exposure to smog and particulate matter – tiny particles that penetrate deep into the lungs – can lead to respiratory diseases, heart conditions, Alzheimer's and even cancer. The WHO estimates that air pollution claims 7 million lives annually, making it one of the leading causes of death worldwide. As a Malaysian air pollution expert Fatimah Ahamad, aptly put it: "If you have bad water, you can tell people to wait. But if you have bad air, you cannot tell people to pause breathing." Despite the bleak outlook, there are glimmers of hope. Cities like Beijing, Seoul and Rybnik in Poland have demonstrated that stringent regulations on vehicles, power plants and industrial emissions, coupled with investments in cleaner energy and public transportation, can significantly improve air quality. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has also taken steps to address transboundary haze pollution, though its efforts have yet to yield substantial results. The IQAir report also highlights progress in expanding air quality monitoring networks. Over the past year, nearly 9,000 new monitoring locations and around 1,000 new monitors have been added worldwide. However, the report emphasizes that much more needs to be done, particularly in regions where government-operated regulatory systems are lacking. Oceania stands out as a beacon of clean air, with 57 percent of its cities meeting WHO guidelines. Australia, New Zealand and several island nations like the Bahamas and Barbados are among the few places where the air is still safe to breathe. But for the rest of the world, the message is clear: the fight for clean air is far from over. This is not just an environmental issue—it is a moral one. The right to breathe clean air is fundamental, yet billions are being denied this basic necessity. The cost of inaction is too high, measured not just in dollars but in human lives. Visit Pollution.news for more similar stories. Watch this news clip about the Los Angeles fires and the poor air quality in the blaze's aftermath. This video is from the TrendingNews channel on Brighteon.com.

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Billions being denied the fundamental right to CLEAN AIR

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