Close X
Tuesday, November 26, 2024
ADVT 
India

New Delhi world's most polluted capital city for 2nd consecutive year

Darpan News Desk IANS, 22 Mar, 2022 10:46 AM
  • New Delhi world's most polluted capital city for 2nd consecutive year

New Delhi, March 22 (IANS) New Delhi has been ranked the world's most polluted capital city for a second consecutive year followed by Dhaka (Bangladesh), N'Djamena (Chad), Dushanbe (Tajikistan) and Muscat (Oman).

Of the 15 most polluted cities in Central and South Asia in 2021, 12 were in India. New Delhi saw a 14.6 per cent increase in PM2.5 concentration in 2021, 96.4 Ig/m3, up from 84 Ig/m3 in 2020.

The annual PM2.5 concentration averages in 48 per cent of India's cities, exceeded 50 Ig/m3 or more than 10 times the World Health Organization's (WHO) air quality guidelines.

Crop burning is common in India, especially in the rice farms near Delhi during the winter months.

During crop burning season, smoke is responsible for up to 45 per cent of pollution in the city.

These startling facts came to light on Tuesday in the 2021 World Air Quality Report according to which only three per cent of cities and no single country has met the latest WHO PM2.5 annual air quality guidelines.

The report analyses PM2.5 air pollution measurements from air monitoring stations in 6,475 cities in 117 countries, regions and territories.

IQAir's 2021 World Air Quality Report is the first major global air quality report based on updated annual WHO air quality guidelines for PM2.5.

The new guidelines were released in September 2021 and cut existing annual PM2.5 guideline values from 10 Aug/m 3 to 5 Aug/m 3.

Fine particle pollution, known as PM2.5, is commonly accepted to be the most harmful, widely-monitored air pollutant and has been found to be a major contributing factor to health effects such as asthma, stroke, heart and lung diseases.

PM2.5 leads to millions of premature deaths every year. The key findings include no country met the latest WHO air quality guidelines for PM2.5 in 2021.

Only the territories of New Caledonia, US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico met the updated WHO PM2.5 air quality guidelines.

Only 222 out of 6,475 global cities in the report met the updated WHO PM2.5 guidelines.

At least 93 cities in the report had annual PM2.5 concentrations exceeding 10 times the WHO PM2.5 guidelines.

Of 174 Latin America and the Caribbean cities, only 12 (seven per cent) have met the WHO PM2.5 guidelines.

Of 1,887 Asian cities, only four (0.2 per cent) have met the updated WHO PM2.5 guidelines.

Of the 1,588 cities in Europe, only 55 (three per cent) have met the WHO PM2.5 guidelines.

The report covered 2,406 cities in the US and found that an average PM2.5 concentrations rose from 9.6 Aug/m 3 to 10.3 Aug/m 3 in 2021 compared to 2020.

"It is a shocking fact that no major city or country is providing safe and healthy air to their citizens according to the latest WHO air quality guidelines.

"This report underscores just how much work remains to be done to ensure that everyone has safe, clean and healthy air to breathe. The time for action is now," said Frank Hammes, CEO of IQAir.

MORE India ARTICLES

SAD-BSP alliance promises solar energy in poll manifesto

SAD-BSP alliance promises solar energy in poll manifesto
The alliance promised Rs 10 lakh free annual health insurance for all Punjabis, Rs 2,000 per month to all women heads of 'blue card' families, 5 lakh houses and five marla plots each to homeless poor and hiking old-age pension to Rs 3,100 and shagun scheme of Rs 75,000.

SAD-BSP alliance promises solar energy in poll manifesto

Cong is losing in Punjab, says Ashwani Kumar after quitting party

Cong is losing in Punjab, says Ashwani Kumar after quitting party
In an interview to IANS, Ashwani Kumar, who was perceived as a loyalist of the Gandhi family and had supported against the 'G23' , said it was getting difficult to continue in the party. He also said he is open to join any other party.

Cong is losing in Punjab, says Ashwani Kumar after quitting party

NDA will form govt in Punjab, free it from drugs: Modi

NDA will form govt in Punjab, free it from drugs: Modi
Promising to work on the teachings of Sikh gurus with principles of non-discrimination and equality for all, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday that the NDA would form the government in Punjab and would free the state from drugs.

NDA will form govt in Punjab, free it from drugs: Modi

Hijab row: Public order not a ground to curb fundamental rights, say petitioners

Hijab row: Public order not a ground to curb fundamental rights, say petitioners
The government can't restrict fundamental rights in the garb of maintaining public order, the counsel for the girl students seeking permission to wear the hijab told the Karnataka High Court on Monday.

Hijab row: Public order not a ground to curb fundamental rights, say petitioners

Your bravery will continue to inspire us: India pays tribute to 2019 Pulwama victims

Your bravery will continue to inspire us: India pays tribute to 2019 Pulwama victims
On February 14, 2019, a suicide bomber of the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror group attacked the CRPF convoy in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district in which 40 personnel were killed.

Your bravery will continue to inspire us: India pays tribute to 2019 Pulwama victims

Bag containing narcotics valued at Rs 15cr found at IGI Airport

Bag containing narcotics valued at Rs 15cr found at IGI Airport
The Customs officials on Sunday recovered an unclaimed bag containing 'cocaine capsules' valued at Rs 15 crore from the Indira Gandhi International Airport here, an official said. The official said that it was seized and a case was lodged and efforts were being made to identify the accused who abandoned the bag.

Bag containing narcotics valued at Rs 15cr found at IGI Airport