Delhi remains world's most polluted capital

In 2023, India was the 3rd most polluted country

- EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

NEW DELHI CONTINUES to be the world's most polluted capital while Meghalaya's Byrnihat is the world's most polluted metropolitan area, according to the 2024 World Air Quality Report released on Tuesday.

With an average PM 2.5 concentration of 91.8 µg/m3, Delhi remained the most polluted capital city followed by Chad's N'Djamena (91.6) and Dhaka (78.0). In fact, between 2018 and 2024, Delhi has topped the list -- except in 2022 when N'Djamena edged past it.

PM (Particulate Matter) 2.5, a fine matter that remains suspended in the air, has significant adverse effects on health, causing and worsening respiratory illnesses as well. It also leads to an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases.

While the World Health Organization (WHO) annual guideline for PM 2.5 is 5 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m3), India's Central Pollution Control Board has set it at 40 µg/m3.