Shaheer Ahmed
A recent analysis found that “healthy” air quality was only found in 13 of the world’s nations and territories in 2022, even as air pollution reached serious levels in 2022. The report was published as air pollution reached worrying levels in 2022.
According to the findings of a study conducted by IQAir, a company that monitors air quality around the world, the average annual level of air pollution in approximately 90 percent of the countries and territories examined was found to be higher than the air quality guidelines established by the World Health Organization. These guidelines are intended to assist governments in formulating regulations that will protect public health.
PM2.5, often known as fine particulate matter, was the focus of the study since it is the smallest pollutant yet has the greatest health effects. This PM2.5 is small enough to penetrate deep into lung tissue after inhalation and then make its way into circulation. Asthma, heart disease, and other respiratory disorders have all been related to exposure to this pollutant, which originates from things like the burning of fossil fuels, dust storms, and wildfires.
With average air pollution of 50 micrograms per cubic meter, seven nations, including Chad, Iraq, Pakistan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Kuwait, and India, had poor air quality that considerably surpassed the WHO standards.
According to the study, Australia, Bermuda, Bonaire, Estonia, Finland, French Polynesia, Grenada, Guam, Iceland, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Saint Eustatius and Saba, and the U.S. Virgin Islands have all reached the target air quality criteria of PM2.5.
In September of 2021, the World Health Organization reduced its yearly air pollution recommendations from 10 to 5 micrograms per cubic meter to protect public health. Healthy air quality in 2022 has been a challenge for most of the countries polluting the air.
