Guwahati, 19th March: Guwahati has earned the disconcerting distinction of being the second most polluted city in the world, according to the 2023 World Air Quality Report by IQAir, trailing behind Bihar’s Begusarai, which claimed the top spot.
Guwahati recorded an average annual PM2.5 concentration of 105.4, surpassing the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines by over 10 times. This alarming level of particulate matter is attributed to various factors, including heightened construction activities leading to increased dust pollution and a significant number of vehicles crowding the streets.
Begusarai in Bihar emerged as the most polluted city globally, followed by Guwahati, Delhi, Mullanpur, and Pakistan’s Lahore, rounding up the top five. Notably, nine out of ten cities in the World’s Most Polluted Cities ranking were Indian cities, with a total of 42 Indian cities featured in the top 50. This underscores severe concerns regarding air quality in India, which ranks as the third most polluted country in the world, trailing behind Bangladesh and Pakistan.
The report highlighted the grave health consequences of air pollution, emphasizing that it is the greatest environmental threat to human health, causing an estimated one in every nine deaths worldwide. Exposure to PM2.5 pollution exacerbates various health conditions, including asthma, cancer, stroke, and lung disease. Moreover, it can impair cognitive development in children, exacerbate mental health issues, and complicate existing illnesses such as diabetes.
The report underscores the urgent need for comprehensive measures to address air pollution and safeguard public health. With air pollution posing a significant threat to human well-being, concerted efforts are required at local, national, and global levels to mitigate its adverse effects and ensure a cleaner, healthier environment for all.