<h5>Air pollution is worse in the Global South.</h5><p>A Swiss company, IQAir, has released a new report called the World Air Quality Report 2024. It studied air pollution in 8,954 cities in 138 countries.</p><p>The report shows that air pollution is worse in the Global South. The five most polluted countries are Chad, Bangladesh, Pakistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and India.</p><p>India has the world’s most polluted city (Byrnihat, Assam) and the most polluted capital city (New Delhi).</p><h5>What is Particulate Matter?</h5><p>Particulate matter (PM) is tiny dust, dirt, or smoke in the air. Scientists measure it in micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m³).</p><p>Smaller particles are more dangerous for our health. There are two main types — PM 10 and PM 2.5. PM 2.5 is considered more harmful to people.&nbsp;</p><h5>Why is PM 2.5 more harmful?</h5><p>PM 10 particles are small but not very tiny. The hairs in our nose and throat stop most of them. We can sneeze or cough them out.</p><p>PM 2.5 particles are extremely tiny. They can enter our lungs and get into our blood.</p><p>This can cause heart disease, asthma, bronchitis, and even early death. PM 2.5 pollution causes millions of people to die every year.</p><h5>How can we fix this problem?</h5><p>The World Health Organization (WHO) says safe PM 2.5 levels should be 5 µg/m³ per year. But only 17% of cities in the report have safe air.</p><p>Air pollution does not stop at country borders. Many polluted cities in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal have the same sources — factory smoke, traffic, and burning waste.&nbsp;</p><p>Thus, Asian and African countries must work together to fight against this issue. More air quality stations should be set up to help find better local solutions.</p>

IQAir’s World Air Quality Report 2024 shows that air pollution is a bigger problem in the Global South, with the top most polluted cities and countries coming from this region.

The Pollution Crisis in the Global South

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The Pollution Crisis in the Global South

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