In 2024, Bangladesh and Chad were the most polluted countries worldwide, with smog levels exceeding WHO standards significantly. Only seven countries met air quality guidelines, while data gaps in developing nations raise concerns about future monitoring. The US’s closure of its air quality sensor program will severely impact air quality data accessibility, particularly in Africa.
In 2024, Bangladesh and Chad were identified as the most polluted countries globally, as per data from Swiss monitoring firm IQAir. Both countries exhibited average smog levels that exceeded the World Health Organization’s standards by more than 15 times. Contrastingly, only seven countries, including Australia and New Zealand, managed to meet WHO’s air quality benchmarks.
There exists significant data deficiency regarding air quality in Asia and Africa, largely due to reliance on air quality sensors located in US embassies. Recent budget constraints have led the US State Department to discontinue this monitoring scheme, consequently raising doubts among researchers about future global air quality assessments.
According to Christi Chester-Schroeder, the air quality science manager at IQAir, the closure of the US monitoring program will have a notable effect on Africa’s air quality monitoring efforts as these sensors often provided the only accessible real-time data. Chad’s absence from IQAir’s 2023 list was partly due to these data issues, although it had previously ranked as the most polluted nation in 2022, beset by Sahara dust and uncontrolled agricultural burning.
In India, the average PM2.5 levels decreased by 7% to 50.6 mg per cubic meter in the same year, ranking it fifth in pollution levels following Chad, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Byrnihat in Meghalaya reported an alarming average PM2.5 level of 128 mg per cubic meter, indicating severe air quality concerns. Climate change is exacerbating pollution sources, as rising temperatures lead to intensified and prolonged forest fires across Southeast Asia and South America.
Christa Hasenkopf, the Director of the Clean Air Program at the University of Chicago’s Energy Policy Institute, emphasized that the closure of the US monitoring initiative could deprive at least 34 nations of reliable pollution data. This program had previously improved air quality in monitored cities, extended life expectancy, and decreased risk allowances for US diplomats. Hasenkopf underscored that its termination represents a significant setback for global air quality initiatives.
In conclusion, the 2024 air quality data reflects alarming trends, with Bangladesh and Chad at the forefront of pollution levels globally. The cessation of US monitoring programs poses serious risks to reliable air quality data, particularly affecting developing nations in Africa and Asia. The implications of climate change and urban pollution underscore the need for robust international air quality monitoring systems to address these growing environmental challenges.
Original Source: www.newsbytesapp.com
