City in air pollution

Fighting air pollution is a common interest of the countries around the world, just as stopping climate change. However, despite many initiatives, the problem is still present. Which countries struggle with it to the greatest extent? Check out our list.

Fighting air pollution is a common interest of the countries around the world, just as stopping climate change. However, despite many initiatives, the problem is still present. Which countries struggle with it to the greatest extent? Check out our list.

Air pollution is a problem that connects the developed and developing regions around the world. Even though emerging technologies give us hope that this situation will soon become a thing of the past, there is still a lot to be done. Some cities continue to struggle with the smog continuously, regardless of the season; others experience it every winter or summer, depending on its kind.

Which regions have been climbing the tops of infamous rankings in recent years? And, more importantly – what are the reasons behind their struggle? Basing on the reports and Airly.org indexes, we’ve listed three countries that have to put up with the highest levels of air pollution in the world.

Bangladesh

This South Asian country is a leader in the air pollution rankings with its 77.10 level of PM 2.5 average (accordingly with the 2020 World Air Quality Report delivered by IQ Air). That provides it with an overwhelming prevalence over all the other countries in the region and outside it.

What causes the air pollution in Bangladesh? The struggle is a combination of few factors – a subtropical climate, undeveloped infrastructure, the common usage of old, diesel-driven vehicles, and the presence of many polluting industries. Among them, the main culprit is the clothing industry. Toxic substances used in the production process are released into the air and pollute the rivers and soil.

Let’s not forget about population density – an aspect that also contributes to the air pollution problem. The capital of Bangladesh – Dhaka – is one of the most densely populated cities in the world. No wonder that the air pollution levels escalate in the urban areas – unmodernized vehicles that emit dangerous amounts of exhaust fumes. Also, the rubber from the tires wears off, staying in the air in the form of particulate matter.

Pakistan

The neighbor of India and Afghanistan is another country that struggles with air pollution almost all year round. The causes of this problem are partially in line with those in Bangladesh. High population density (particularly in the capital, Karachi, inhabited by over 20 million people), exhaust fumes, and industrial emission – all these factors contribute to high pollution levels. There’s also another issue that causes the high concentration of particulate matter in the air – the lack of efficient waste management. As a result, solid waste is often burnt, releasing PM and toxic gases into the air.

India

India is another country in the region that reaches the top of the rankings of air pollution levels. The causes are similar – crowded, densely populated cities, dusty roads, waste burning, and exhaust fumes.

The majority of the air pollution in India originates from the industrial activity and production of energy. Even though in recent years solar technology has been gaining popularity, coal remains the main source of energy.

That doesn’t mean that there’s no hope for recovery. In 2020, all of these countries noted lower pollution levels compared to the previous year.

If you’d like to monitor air quality around the world, consider using an air pollution map by Airly.org, displaying real-time levels of toxic gases and PM.