The recently published 2024 IQAir World air quality report has revealed some alarming trends of air pollution levels worldwide.
In its 7th annual report, Swiss technology company IQAir significantly expanded the amount of monitoring stations from its previous year’s report.
From 30,000 air quality monitoring stations in 2023, for this year’s report data was analysed from more than 40,000 air quality monitoring stations across 8,954 locations in 138 countries, territories and regions.
This increase is attributed to the low-cost air quality monitors used by citizen scientists, researchers, community advocates and local organisations. These monitors have helped to provide a more accurate picture of air pollution levels worldwide.
Of the 138 countries analysed, the report found that Chad, Congo, Bangladesh, Pakistan and India had the most polluted air.
To meet World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, fine airborne particulate matter (PM2.5) – including dust, soot, dirt and smoke that is...