The 2024 World Air Quality Report, released on Tuesday, revealed that Bangladesh recorded the world's second-highest air pollution levels in 2024, with average smog concentrations exceeding World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines by more than 15 times.
According to the report by Swiss air quality monitoring firm IQAir, Bangladesh’s annual average PM2.5 level stood at 78 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m³), trailing only Chad, which recorded 91.8 µg/m³.
Pakistan ranked third with 73.7 µg/m³, followed by the Democratic Republic of the Congo (58.2 µg/m³) and India (50.6 µg/m³).
Dhaka among the most polluted capitals
Dhaka ranked as the third most polluted capital in 2024, with an average PM2.5 level of 78 µg/m³.
New Delhi recorded the highest level at 91.6 µg/m³, followed closely by Chad’s capital, N'Djamena, at 91.8 µg/m³.
The fourth and fifth spots were occupied by Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (58.2 µg/m³), and Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan (52.4 µg/m³), respectively.
Only seven countries met WHO air quality standards
IQAir’s report, released on Tuesday, found that just seven countries met WHO's air quality standards in 2024.
These were Australia, New Zealand, the Bahamas, Barbados, Grenada, Estonia, and Iceland.
Researchers also warned that efforts to combat smog could become more challenging following the United States’ decision to discontinue its global air quality monitoring program.
Global air pollution monitoring faces challenges
The report analyzed data from more than 40,000 air quality monitoring stations across 8,954 locations in 138 countries, territories, and regions.
WHO recommends that PM2.5 levels not exceed 5 µg/m³, yet only 17% of cities worldwide met this standard in 2024.
However, significant data gaps, particularly in Asia and Africa, continue to obscure the full global picture.
Many developing nations previously relied on air quality sensors installed at US embassies and consulates.
With the US government recently discontinuing this program due to budget constraints, over 17 years of data were removed from the official air quality monitoring website.
Health risks
According to WHO, 99% of the global population lives in areas where air quality fails to meet recommended standards.
Air pollution is the second leading global risk factor for death and remains the second biggest cause of mortality among children under five, after malnutrition, it said.
In 2021 alone, it contributed to 8.1 million deaths, with 58% attributed to ambient PM2.5 pollution, as per WHO.
Exposure to PM2.5 has been linked to numerous health risks, including asthma, cancer, strokes, and lung diseases, it added.
A study published on January 18 by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (Crea), titled "Public Health Impacts of Fine Particle Air Pollution in Bangladesh," reported that air pollution contributes to 102,456 deaths annually in Bangladesh.
The study linked these fatalities to ischemic heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lower respiratory infections, and lung cancer.
"Air pollution remains a critical threat to both human health and environmental stability, yet vast populations remain unaware of their exposure levels," said Frank Hammes, global CEO of IQAir.
He also emphasized that the US has recognized access to clean air as a universal human right.
