Air Pollution: Nations With The Dirtiest Air

Outdoor air pollution is a pressing global issue, with 99% of the world's population residing in areas that do not meet the World Health Organization's (WHO) air quality guidelines. It is a significant contributor to the over 4 million premature deaths worldwide each year and poses a substantial environmental and health risk. While air pollution is a global problem, certain nations consistently rank among the worst for outdoor air pollution due to various factors, including industrial growth, traffic congestion, and natural occurrences such as dust storms. These nations bear the brunt of the health consequences and face the challenge of implementing effective measures to improve their air quality.

Bangladesh's air quality crisis

Bangladesh is facing a severe air quality crisis, with high levels of air pollution that are taking a toll on its people, economy, and environment. The country's air pollution is primarily driven by vehicular emissions, industrial discharges, and the widespread use of kilns, particularly in the brick-making industry. Bangladesh's annual average levels of ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) range from 60 to 100 µg/m³ across the country, with even higher levels in Dhaka, the capital city, reaching 90 to 100 µg/m³. These levels are significantly higher than the World Health Organization's recommended limit of 10 µg/m³. During the dry months from November to March, these levels can rise even higher, up to two to three times the annual averages.

The brick-making industry, employing one million people and producing 23 billion bricks annually, is a major contributor to air pollution in Bangladesh. The use of kilns and the burning of fossil fuels release particulate matter and pollutants such as carbon monoxide, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere. Additionally, the country's rapid economic growth, population boom, and energy poverty have further exacerbated the air quality crisis. With over 162 million people, Bangladesh is the 8th most populous country in the world, and its proximity to other countries in the region, such as India and China, which also struggle with pollution, adds to the complexity of the issue.

Household activities and waste burning also play a significant role in air pollution in Bangladesh. Approximately 74.2% of the population uses solid fuels, such as chopped wood, straw, or dried dung, for cooking, with two-thirds cooking indoors. The use of traditional cookstoves and open burning of municipal solid waste contributes to the deteriorating air quality, especially in urban areas. Moreover, electricity generation from high-sulfur fuel oil-fired power plants has increased substantially, further impacting the air quality negatively.

To address the air quality crisis, the Government of Bangladesh has taken some initiatives, such as the National Air Quality Management Plan (NAQMP) 2024–2030, which aims to strengthen air quality governance and reduce emissions from major sources. The Department of Environment has also launched a real-time air quality index for the country, based on data from continuous air quality monitoring stations installed in Dhaka and other regions. However, implementing effective solutions comes at a significant economic cost, and Bangladesh faces challenges due to its limited financial resources and lower level of economic development compared to other countries.

In the long term, Bangladesh can improve its air quality by accessing cleaner electricity, promoting the use of cleaner fuels, enforcing emission limits, and improving urban mobility. Regional cooperation and integration of the electricity grid with hydropower-rich countries in the region can also help mitigate the air quality crisis. Additionally, a collaborative effort from all sectors of society, including the private sector, is necessary to achieve the ambitious targets of the NAQMP and ensure a sustainable future for the country.

Chad's air pollution sources

Chad, the country with the worst outdoor air pollution in 2022, has a multitude of sources contributing to its poor air quality. The primary sources of air pollution in Chad include the oil, textile, and meatpacking industries, vehicle emissions, waste burning, and desert dust.

Chad's capital, N'Djamena, is frequently affected by dust storms, blanketing the city with dust and sand. The country's increasing reliance on biomass as a primary energy source for cooking and heating has significantly raised indoor pollution levels, with serious health implications for its population, especially vulnerable groups such as children and women.

One of the significant contributors to Chad's air pollution is the uncontrolled outdoor waste burning practices. The composition of waste, including plastics, waste tires, and other organic and inorganic materials, when burned, releases harmful emissions such as dioxins and furans. Additionally, the country's waste management practices require improvement, with a need to implement waste composting and develop a national integrated sustainable waste management strategy.

The energy sector in Chad also contributes to air pollution. Wood and charcoal provide 90% of the energy consumed in the country, and the cutting down of firewood exacerbates desertification and pollution. However, there is a growing promotion of alternative energy sources, such as solar and wind power, to reduce the reliance on firewood and charcoal. Moreover, the country's electricity generation capacity is entirely dependent on fossil fuels, which further contributes to air pollution.

Lastly, the mining industry and petroleum extraction in Chad pose a severe threat to freshwater sources and wildlife. The Bodele Depression, located in north-central Africa, is a significant source of airborne dust, providing a steady supply of Saharan dust plumes. Overall, Chad's air pollution crisis is driven by a combination of industrial activities, vehicle emissions, biomass burning, waste management practices, and natural factors such as desert dust.

Developing countries' challenges

Developing countries face several challenges in addressing outdoor air pollution. Firstly, they often lack the financial and technological resources to implement effective pollution control measures. This includes investing in cleaner technologies, renewable energy sources, and improved waste management practices. In addition, developing countries are often more focused on economic growth and poverty alleviation, which can lead to a neglect of environmental concerns.

Secondly, there is a lack of awareness and education about the causes and consequences of air pollution among the public, policymakers, and industries in these countries. This can result in a lack of political will and inadequate enforcement of existing environmental regulations. Additionally, developing countries often have weak institutions and governance structures, making it challenging to coordinate effective pollution control measures across various sectors and enforce environmental standards.

Thirdly, developing countries are particularly vulnerable to the health impacts of air pollution due to limited access to healthcare services and inadequate infrastructure. The high population density in urban areas of developing countries further exacerbates the impact of air pollution on public health. Moreover, the use of traditional biomass fuels such as wood, coal, and dung for cooking and heating is still prevalent in developing countries, contributing significantly to indoor and outdoor air pollution.

Lastly, the informal economy, which is prevalent in many developing countries, often operates outside of environmental regulations and contributes to air pollution through activities such as open burning of waste, use of outdated industrial processes, and unregulated vehicle emissions. Additionally, developing countries are often affected by natural disasters such as wildfires and volcanic eruptions, which can release large amounts of pollutants into the atmosphere.

Overall, addressing outdoor air pollution in developing countries requires a multi-faceted approach that includes improving access to clean technologies and renewable energy sources, strengthening environmental regulations and governance, raising awareness about the causes and consequences of air pollution, and providing support to vulnerable communities affected by air pollution-related health issues.

Air pollution in South Asia

South Asia has some of the worst outdoor air pollution in the world. Nine out of the world's ten cities with the worst air pollution are in South Asia, and the region's poor air quality causes an estimated two million premature deaths each year. The sources of emissions in South Asia are diverse and include brick kiln and other industrial emissions, agricultural waste burning, cremation practices, the burning of solid fuel for cooking and heating, plastic rubbish incineration, vehicle fumes, and biomass burning.

In 2023, Bangladesh recorded the worst air quality of 134 countries monitored by the Swiss climate group, IQAir. The country's largest source of air pollution is its brickmaking industry, which employs one million people and creates 23 billion bricks each year. There are an estimated 8,000 brick kilns in Bangladesh, some of which operate illegally. While Bangladesh has seen slight improvements in air quality in recent years, the air quality in Dhaka and other urban areas remains dangerously poor.

Pakistan and India closely follow Bangladesh in terms of poor air quality. In 2023, the average air quality in Pakistan and India exceeded WHO safety guidelines, and India occupied nine of the top ten spots for the most polluted cities. In November 2023, Pakistan's Punjab province was engulfed in a blanket of smog, leading to the declaration of an emergency in Lahore, Gujranwala, and Hafizabad, with all public places closed. In Delhi, India's capital territory, schools were shuttered, and construction was halted due to dangerous levels of air pollution. Nepal also struggles with poor air quality, and smoke from India, Nepal, and Pakistan can drift into Bangladesh, further contributing to its air pollution challenges.

The geography of South Asia plays a role in the accumulation of air pollution. Pollutants emitted from across the Indo-Gangetic Plain, which includes Bangladesh, eastern Pakistan, northern and eastern India, and southern Nepal, mix with pollutants brought in by coastal winds. These pollutants then become trapped by the Himalayas to the north, creating large "airsheds" that are shaped by climatology and geography. To effectively reduce air pollution in South Asia, cooperation across jurisdictions and better coordination between different sectors is needed. Governments in South Asia are increasingly implementing policies to reduce air pollution, but current policies primarily focus on air quality within cities.

Global air quality in 2024

Air pollution is a pressing issue that affects the health and well-being of people worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 99% of the global population breathes unhealthy air, and air pollution is responsible for over 10% of all deaths worldwide. In 2024, the WHO's Air Quality and Health Unit continued to work towards reducing air pollution levels and protecting populations from its harmful effects.

The 2024 World Air Quality Report revealed that 91% of 138 countries and regions exceeded the WHO's annual PM2.5 guideline value of 5 µg/m3. Central and South Asia were among the top ten most polluted cities globally. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is linked to approximately 7 million deaths annually and results in a loss of 2.3 years of life expectancy for the average person.

Countries in the Global South, particularly developing nations in Africa, South America, and Southeast Asia, face the worst air quality. These regions are rich in fossil fuels and continue to rely on coal power plants and solid fuels like wood, crop wastes, charcoal, and kerosene for cooking, heating, and lighting. South Asian countries like Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Pakistan have some of the worst air pollution, with residents expected to lose about five years of their lives due to air pollution.

The primary sources of outdoor air pollution include the burning of fossil fuels, vehicle emissions, industrial activities, biomass burning, and agriculture. Natural sources, such as windblown dust, volcanic smoke, and wildfires, also contribute to air pollution. The effects of air pollution include breathing issues, asthma, respiratory illnesses, heart disease, lung disease, and even congenital disabilities.

To address air pollution, policies and investments supporting cleaner transport, energy-efficient homes, improved power generation, and better waste management are crucial. Access to clean household energy and the implementation of regulations can also help reduce air pollution levels. Additionally, the use of masks and air purifiers can provide protection from ambient air pollution.

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