Air pollution responsible for nearly 7 million deaths annually worldwide

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This photo taken on February 17, 2025 shows smoke rising from chimneys as smog hang over Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia. The toxic smog that settles over the Mongolian capital every winter has been a suffocating problem for well over a decade that successive governments have failed to dispel. (Photo by Jade GAO / AFP)

The report indicated that only 17 per cent of cities worldwide meet the recommended air quality standards, warning that 99 per cent of the global population lives in areas where pollution levels exceed the safe limits set by the WHO.

PARIS - A recent report by the World Air Quality Index (AQI) revealed that air pollution is responsible for nearly seven million deaths worldwide each year, making it one of the most serious health and environmental challenges facing humanity, Qatar News Agency reported.

The report indicated that only 17 per cent of cities worldwide meet the recommended air quality standards, warning that 99 per cent of the global population lives in areas where pollution levels exceed the safe limits set by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

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Countries such as Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India topped the list of the most affected nations, with their cities recording alarming pollution levels.

A general view shows the Signature Bridge over the Yamuna River on a smoggy winter morning in New Delhi on December 20, 2024. Despite an improvement in 2024, India again dominated global rankings for the cities with the most dangerous particle smog while Chad was the most polluted country, according to a report published on March 11, 2025. (Photo by Arun SANKAR / AFP)

The report highlighted that exposure to polluted air significantly increases the risk of serious diseases, including respiratory illnesses, cancer, and Alzheimer’s disease.

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The Global Climate and Health Alliance called for linking air pollution control efforts with the fight against climate change, stressing that reducing greenhouse gas emissions would improve air quality and save millions of lives.

AQI is a tool used by government agencies and international organisations to measure pollution levels in a specific area. It aims to provide the public with clear and accessible information about air quality and its potential health effects.

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AQI’s air quality indicators are widely used by governmental bodies to assess and communicate air quality conditions in different locations. - BERNAMA