Pollution in Dhaka, Bangladesh, which has topped a list of countries with the most-polluted air in the world. EPA
Pollution in Dhaka, Bangladesh, which has topped a list of countries with the most-polluted air in the world. EPA
Pollution in Dhaka, Bangladesh, which has topped a list of countries with the most-polluted air in the world. EPA
Pollution in Dhaka, Bangladesh, which has topped a list of countries with the most-polluted air in the world. EPA

Bangladesh, Pakistan and India have world's most-polluted air, report finds


Daniel Bardsley
  • English
  • Arabic

Bangladesh, Pakistan and India have the worst air pollution in the world, with concentrations of particulate matter more than 10 times the recommended maximum, a report has found.

The 2023 World Air Quality Report, released by air purifier company IQAir, found 124 of 134 countries analysed exceeded World Health Organisation guidelines for particulate matter up to 2.5 microns in size (PM2.5).

These tiny particles are regarded as some of the most dangerous air pollutants and are linked to often-fatal conditions such as lung cancer and heart disease.

Many Middle Eastern cities have high levels of PM2.5, including Baghdad and Cairo, which are the world's fifth and 10th polluted capitals, respectively.

The Gulf nations fared poorly in the ranking, with the UAE seventh-worst for air pollution and Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain all listed in the top 15. Meanwhile, fewer than 10 per cent of the countries or regions for which data was collected have pollution levels that adhere to WHO guidelines.

The report also found, however, that the PM2.5 concentration has fallen in the most polluted cities in West Asia, a region that includes the Middle East.

Aidan Farrow, a senior air-quality scientist at Greenpeace International, branded air pollution "a global health catastrophe" that required urgent action.

The report showed air pollution often had "inequitable consequences" and there was a "need to implement the many solutions that exist to this problem", he said.

Air-quality data saves lives. Where air quality is reported, action is taken and air quality improves
Frank Hammes,
IQAir’s global chief executive

"Local, national and international effort is urgently needed to monitor air quality in under-resourced places, manage the causes of transboundary haze and cut our reliance on combustion as an energy source," he said.

Ranked as the most-polluted country, Bangladesh has a PM2.5 concentration of 79.9 µg/m3 (micrograms per cubic metre), which is more than 15 times the World Health Organisation’s recommended maximum of 5µg/m3. In Pakistan and India, the concentrations are 73.7 µg/m3 and 54.4 µg/m3, respectively.

Human-made and natural factors mean that areas spanning these three countries have, the report says, "the worst air pollution conditions in the world".

Brick kilns, the burning of agricultural waste, cremations and the use of solid fuel for cooking and heating contribute to the poor air quality.

Road transport is another key source of PM2.5 in South Asia and around the world.

New Delhi is classed as the world’s most-polluted capital, with a PM2.5 concentration of 92.7 µg/m3, followed by Dhaka, the Bangladeshi capital, with 80.2 µg/m3. Islamabad in Pakistan is the world’s ninth-most polluted capital, with 42.4 µg/m3.

Tajikistan in the neighbouring region of Central Asia is also highly polluted, with a concentration of 49.0 µg/m3, the fourth-highest in the world.

Other heavily polluted countries are, from fifth to 10th worldwide, Burkina Faso (46.6 µg/m3), Iraq (43.8 µg/m3), the UAE (43.0 µg/m3), Nepal (42.4 µg/m3), Egypt (also 42.4 µg/m3) and the Democratic Republic of Congo (40.8 µg/m3).

The UAE is not the only Gulf nation high on the list, with Kuwait in 11th place (39.9 µg/m3), Bahrain in 12th (39.2 µg/m3) and Qatar 13th (37.6 µg/m3).

The Emirates has taken steps to tackle pollution through the launch in 2022 of the UAE National Air Quality Agenda 2031.

Sandstorms are also a factor in increased PM levels in desert countries found in the Middle East.

A study of Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, published in 2021 in the journal Science of the Total Environment, found that sandstorms were linked to increased PM levels and higher levels of ozone and CO.

While several of the world’s 20 most polluted capitals are in the Middle East, including Baghdad (45.8 µg/m3), Kuwait City (39.9 µg/m3), Manama (39.2 µg/m3), Abu Dhabi (38.2 µg/m3) and Doha (37.6 µg/m3), the report said pollution levels had fallen in West Asia’s nine most-polluted cities.

"In 2023, there is only one city with an annual average above 50 µg/m3, whereas there were five such cities in 2022," the report said.

Ras Al Khaimah is the most-polluted city in West Asia, with a PM2.5 concentration of 52.0 µg/m3, followed by Dhahran in Saudi Arabia (46.5 µg/m3), Baghdad, Dubai (43.6 µg/m3) and Kuwait City. The 10 least-polluted cities in the region, all in Israel, are typically much smaller.

Officials from Ras Al Khaimah, however, dispute the report, saying their own monitoring devices have measured particulate matter at far lower levels.

"Our national stations show the air quality index being 37 (good) and PM2.5 has a value of 25 µg/m3," Saif Al Ghais, director general of the Environment Protection and Development Authority in Ras Al Khaimah, told The National.

Other nations high on the most-polluted list are Indonesia, in 14th place, Rwanda (15th), Zimbabwe (16th), Ghana (17th), Kyrgyzstan (18th), China (19th) and Libya (20th).

The report uses PM2.5 readings from 30,000 air-quality monitoring stations at 7,812 sites in 134 nations or regions.

PM2.5 are considered among the most hazardous particulate pollution because their tiny size means they penetrate deep into the lungs and, the US Environmental Protection Agency reports, may enter the bloodstream.

The report also includes data for Mexico (46th with 20.1 µg/m3), Palestine (55th with 18.6 µg/m3), Israel (56th with 17.8 µg/m3), the Philippines (79th with 13.5 µg/m3), the US (102nd with 9.1 µg/m3) and the UK (112th with 7.7 µg/m3).

Africa is described as "the most under-represented continent" when it comes to air-quality monitoring.

"In many parts of the world the lack of air-quality data delays decisive action and perpetuates unnecessary human suffering," Frank Hammes, IQAir’s global chief executive, said in a statement.

"Air-quality data saves lives. Where air quality is reported action is taken, and air quality improves."

Only 10 of the 134 countries or regions analysed had pollution levels below the WHO recommended maximum, with many tending to be sparsely populated.

French Polynesia is the least polluted, with a PM2.5 concentration of 3.2 µg/m3, followed by Mauritius (3.5 µg/m3), Iceland (4.0 µg/m3), Grenada (4.1 µg/m3), Bermuda (also 4.1 µg/m3), New Zealand (4.3 µg/m3), Australia (4.5 µg/m3), Puerto Rico (4.5 µg/m3), Estonia (4.7 µg/m3) and Finland (4.9 µg/m3).

Climate tipping points - in pictures

The Vile

Starring: Bdoor Mohammad, Jasem Alkharraz, Iman Tarik, Sarah Taibah

Director: Majid Al Ansari

Rating: 4/5

Jetour T1 specs

Engine: 2-litre turbocharged

Power: 254hp

Torque: 390Nm

Price: From Dh126,000

Available: Now

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat 

Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere

Director: Scott Cooper

Starring: Jeremy Allen White, Odessa Young, Jeremy Strong

Rating: 4/5

Analysis

Members of Syria's Alawite minority community face threat in their heartland after one of the deadliest days in country’s recent history. Read more

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Five hymns the crowds can join in

Papal Mass will begin at 10.30am at the Zayed Sports City Stadium on Tuesday

Some 17 hymns will be sung by a 120-strong UAE choir

Five hymns will be rehearsed with crowds on Tuesday morning before the Pope arrives at stadium

‘Christ be our Light’ as the entrance song

‘All that I am’ for the offertory or during the symbolic offering of gifts at the altar

‘Make me a Channel of your Peace’ and ‘Soul of my Saviour’ for the communion

‘Tell out my Soul’ as the final hymn after the blessings from the Pope

The choir will also sing the hymn ‘Legions of Heaven’ in Arabic as ‘Assakiroo Sama’

There are 15 Arabic speakers from Syria, Lebanon and Jordan in the choir that comprises residents from the Philippines, India, France, Italy, America, Netherlands, Armenia and Indonesia

The choir will be accompanied by a brass ensemble and an organ

They will practice for the first time at the stadium on the eve of the public mass on Monday evening 

WITHIN%20SAND
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Moe%20Alatawi%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%20Ra%E2%80%99ed%20Alshammari%2C%20Adwa%20Fahd%2C%20Muhand%20Alsaleh%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
BMW M5 specs

Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor

Power: 727hp

Torque: 1,000Nm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh650,000

What%20is%20Dungeons%20%26%20Dragons%3F%20
%3Cp%3EDungeons%20%26amp%3B%20Dragons%20began%20as%20an%20interactive%20game%20which%20would%20be%20set%20up%20on%20a%20table%20in%201974.%20One%20player%20takes%20on%20the%20role%20of%20dungeon%20master%2C%20who%20directs%20the%20game%2C%20while%20the%20other%20players%20each%20portray%20a%20character%2C%20determining%20its%20species%2C%20occupation%20and%20moral%20and%20ethical%20outlook.%20They%20can%20choose%20the%20character%E2%80%99s%20abilities%2C%20such%20as%20strength%2C%20constitution%2C%20dexterity%2C%20intelligence%2C%20wisdom%20and%20charisma.%20In%20layman%E2%80%99s%20terms%2C%20the%20winner%20is%20the%20one%20who%20amasses%20the%20highest%20score.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
  • Riders must be 14-years-old or over
  • Wear a protective helmet
  • Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
  • Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
  • Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
  • Do not drive outside designated lanes
Bridgerton%20season%20three%20-%20part%20one
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirectors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EVarious%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Nicola%20Coughlan%2C%20Luke%20Newton%2C%20Jonathan%20Bailey%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

Tewellah by Nawal Zoghbi is out now.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The Penguin

Starring: Colin Farrell, Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz

Creator: Lauren LeFranc

Rating: 4/5

The rules on fostering in the UAE

A foster couple or family must:

  • be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
  • not be younger than 25 years old
  • not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
  • be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
  • have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
  • undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
  • A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
Specs

Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request

Tips for job-seekers
  • Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
  • Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.

David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East

HIV on the rise in the region

A 2019 United Nations special analysis on Aids reveals 37 per cent of new HIV infections in the Mena region are from people injecting drugs.

New HIV infections have also risen by 29 per cent in western Europe and Asia, and by 7 per cent in Latin America, but declined elsewhere.

Egypt has shown the highest increase in recorded cases of HIV since 2010, up by 196 per cent.

Access to HIV testing, treatment and care in the region is well below the global average.  

Few statistics have been published on the number of cases in the UAE, although a UNAIDS report said 1.5 per cent of the prison population has the virus.

Dhadak 2

Director: Shazia Iqbal

Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri 

Rating: 1/5

The specs

Engine: 1.6-litre 4-cyl turbo

Power: 217hp at 5,750rpm

Torque: 300Nm at 1,900rpm

Transmission: eight-speed auto

Price: from Dh130,000

On sale: now

Updated: March 27, 2024, 1:16 PM