In 2023, only seven countries met WHO air quality standards; Chad and Bangladesh were the most polluted. The U.S. ended a crucial air monitoring program, removing vital data for many developing nations. Without U.S. sensors, global pollution tracking will suffer, impacting efforts to combat smog, especially in Africa.
In a recent report, only seven countries were found to meet the World Health Organization’s (WHO) air quality standards in 2023. Chad and Bangladesh top the list as the most polluted countries, with average smog levels exceeding WHO guidelines by more than 15 times, according to data from the Swiss air monitoring firm IQAir. Countries that successfully met these standards include Australia, New Zealand, the Bahamas, Barbados, Grenada, Estonia, and Iceland.
Data limitations, especially in regions like Asia and Africa, significantly obscure the global air quality overview. Many developing nations have depended on air quality sensors located at U.S. embassies and consulates for monitoring pollution levels. However, budget constraints have led the U.S. State Department to terminate this monitoring program, resulting in the removal of over 17 years of data from airnow.gov, including crucial metrics from Chad.
Christi Chester-Schroeder, IQAir’s air quality science manager, highlighted that while most countries possess alternative data sources, the loss of U.S. monitoring will severely impact Africa, where these sensors often provided the only publicly accessible real-time air quality data. Chad, notably absent from IQAir’s 2023 pollutants list due to data concerns, was recorded as the most polluted country in 2022, with severe dust from the Sahara and rampant agricultural burning contributing to its dire air quality.
Last year, the average concentration of PM2.5 particles in Chad rose to 91.8 micrograms per cubic meter (mg/cu m), which is significantly above the WHO’s recommended level of 5 mg/cu m, a standard achieved by only 17 percent of global cities. Meanwhile, India ranked fifth among the most polluted countries, with an average PM2.5 level of 50.6 mg/cu m, showing a 7 percent decrease from the previous year, but still accounting for 12 of the top 20 polluted cities, including Byrnihat.
Christa Hasenkopf, director of the Clean Air Program at the University of Chicago’s Energy Policy Institute (EPIC), noted that at least 34 countries are set to lose access to reliable air quality data following the closure of the U.S. program. The U.S. monitoring initiative not only improved local air quality but also had notable positive impacts on life expectancy and reduced hazard considerations for U.S. diplomats, indicating its cost-effectiveness. Hasenkopf emphasized the repercussions of this closure by stating it is a “giant blow to air quality efforts worldwide.”
The cessation of U.S. air quality monitoring significantly compromises global efforts to address pollution, particularly affecting developing countries that relied on these data sources. With Chad and Bangladesh leading in pollution levels, the challenge of improving air quality amidst increasing climate-related threats becomes even more daunting. The reduction in real-time monitoring data is likely to hinder understanding and progress towards resolving pervasive air quality issues.
Original Source: www.arabnews.com
