Most Air Polluted Countries in The World – Latest 2020

Pollution introduces the natural world of toxic substances or toxins or their presence that causes adverse effects. Not only does polluted Countries affect the Earth, but it is harmful to humans as well. Air pollution in industry, factories, automobiles, aircraft, and electricity generated by the combustion of fossil fuels causes health issues such as respiratory problems, worsening asthma, and even congenital disabilities. Toxic contamination is among the leading risk factors for non-communicable diseases worldwide, according to Pure Earth. 72% of all deaths are due to non-communicable diseases, 16 percent of which are caused by environmental polluters. 22% of all cardiovascular diseases, 25 percent of stroke deaths, 40% of lung cancer deaths, and 53% of deaths from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are caused by environmental emissions.

The soil and water of the Planet can also be contaminated by factories and people by the littering or disposal of chemicals. This pollution can damage habitats, impact plants and trees negatively, and contaminate our drinking water. More nations are searching for green solutions to avoid further harm to the environment as the harm from pollution has become more evident. To help protect the Earth, solar and wind energy, eco-friendly construction materials, and non-toxic goods are increasingly being used. While these green projects are taking place around the world, there is a long way to go for certain nations. Ambient air pollution causes 4.2 million casualties per year, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). In countries where unhealthy air quality reaches the limits of WHO standards, 91% of the world’s population lives.

Pollution from Particles:

To identify the most contaminated area on Earth, the World Health Organization measured the concentration of PM2.5 particles. PM2.5 (fine particulate matter 2.5) refers to tiny airborne particles or droplets which are two and a half microns in diameter or less. These particles come from the exhausts of automobiles, trucks, buses, and off-road vehicles, and operations involving the combustion of fossil fuels such as wood, oil, or coal are the main cause of the pollution. They may also come from indoor sources, such as smoking cigarettes, cooking, using fireplaces, or burning candles. When levels in the air are high, PM2.5 is an air pollutant that is a problem for the health of people. These particles minimize visibility and, when levels are elevated, make the air look hazy. When conditions are deemed to be unsafe for vulnerable groups, some cities, such as New York which is the hub of air pollution in the united states, issue a PM2.5 Health Advisory.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) is an index determined by the Clean Air Act for major air pollutants. Particulate pollution (PM2.5), ozone at the ground level, carbon monoxide, and Sulphur dioxide. The AQI ranges from 0 to 500, with clean air representing zero and the most harmful being 500. In general, values of 100 or below are considered satisfactory; however, air quality is considered hazardous for some at-risk groups of people when values are above 100 and becomes more dangerous as the value increases. To assess which had the highest volume of PM2.5 or which countries were the most contaminated, a total of 10 nations were evaluated and ranked according to world pollution by country. The list of most polluted countries in the world is as follows:

10 World’s Most Air Contaminated Countries:

1.Bangladesh

Bangladesh Map Flag

With an average concentration of PM2.5, Bangladesh is the most polluted country in the world with 97.1 which is the worst air quality in the world. Air and water pollution, groundwater contamination, noise pollution, and solid waste are the major environmental contaminants and some of the most polluted countries in the world. Dhaka City is one of the world’s most polluted cities. Bangladesh’s main source of air pollution is its brickmaking industry, which employs one million people and produces 23 billion bricks per year. The kilns used in the production of bricks burn wood or coal and produce large quantities of smoke and dust. The brickmaking industry is only expected to expand further due to a rise in demand for bricks, leading to more air pollution.

2. Pakistan

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Pakistan, which has an average PM2.5 concentration of 74.27, is the second-most contaminated nation in the world. For most of 2019, AQI levels in Punjab were consistently among the “near unhealthy” or “extremely unhealthy” ratings and even reached as high as 484. Pakistan is experiencing increasing pollution from the increasing number of road vehicles, the loss of trees on a wide scale, smoke from brick kilns and steel mills, and waste burning. India was blamed for Pakistan’s smog by the Pakistani Minister for Climate Change, but Pakistani people blame their government for simply not doing enough to control or tackle the crisis.

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3. India

With an average PM2.5 concentration of 72.54, India is the world’s third-most polluted region. Of the world’s 30 most polluted cities, 21 of them are located in India. Kanpur, where the city’s medical college receives about 600 respiratory disease patients every month, is the most polluted city in India and the world and make India in the list of most polluted countries in the world. The unhealthy levels of emissions in India are from sources such as cars, coal and wood burning, storms of dust, and forest fires. Delhi, the capital city of India, is infamous for some of India’s worst aircraft, prompting flight cancellations, causing traffic accidents, closing schools, and even turning the Taj Mahal’s white marble walls green. Rural areas in India are just as, if not more, affected by pollution as they rely on cooking and heating items such as wood and dung and also practice the burning of crop stubble.

4. Afghanistan

With an average PM2.5 rating of 61.80, Afghanistan is the fourth-most polluted nation in the world and ranked fourth in most polluted countries in the world. In 2017, figures show that in Afghanistan, air pollution was more dangerous than war. Around 26,000 individuals lost their lives due to air pollution-related diseases that year, while 3,483 individuals lost their lives due to conflict. Around 80 percent of Afghanistan’s drinking water is also contaminated due to low rainfall, erratic groundwater use, and inadequate urban infrastructure. Food poisoning typically occurs from a lack of safe drinking water.

5. Bahrain

Bahrain, which has an average PM 2.5 of 59.80., is ranked fifth in most polluted countries in the world. In the Middle East, Bahrain has the worst air pollution. A Gulf country like Bahrain does not suffer from pollution caused by coal-fired power plants or other human activities seen in towns, but rather from storms of dust and sand that can pick up from as far as the Sahara a variety of toxic chemicals and even radioactive materials.

6. Mongolia

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The world’s sixth-most polluted nation is Mongolia. The average concentration of PM2.5 in Mongolia is 58.50. The burning of coal and other biomass, such as wood or crop residue, in stoves, is Mongolia’s main source of pollution. Over the past 1o years, respiratory infections have risen 270% in Mongolia’s capital, Ulan Bator, and children living in the capital city have a 40 % lower lung capacity than those living in rural areas. Approximately 70-90 percent of pregnant mothers treated at a family health center in Mongolia are adversely affected by air pollution, and children are diagnosed with pneumonia or other respiratory diseases as young as two days old.

7. Kuwait

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With an average PM2.5 level of 56.00, Kuwait is ranked seventh in most polluted countries in the world. As the source of large quantities of emissions from burning fossil fuels during exploration and in the process of exporting oil, Kuwait’s oil industry poses the greatest threat to the country’s air quality. The rise in the number of vehicles and the expansion of industrial facilities have also caused a significant increase in pollution rates across the nation. Kuwait already has a scarcity of water that climate change has worsened. The oil industry in the country threatens the quality of the already inadequate water supplies in Kuwait and has made some of the water unusable.

8. Nepal

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The world’s eighth-most polluted country is Nepal among the most polluted countries. The average concentration of PM2.5 in Nepal is 54.15. Every year, about 35,000 people die in Nepal from diseases caused by air pollution. Because of the deteriorating air conditions in Nepal, about 1 in 10 Nepalese now suffer from chronic lung problems such as bronchitis or emphysema. A baby born today in Nepal is predicted to have a shorter life expectancy of two years solely due to air-induced problems. In the country’s capital, Kathmandu, 80% of road vehicles are motorcycles, which, in addition to brick kilns, are one of the leading urban polluters.

9. The United Arab Emirates

With a median PM2.5 concentration of 49.93, the United Arab Emirates is the ninth most polluted country in the most polluted countries in the world. In the UAE, high levels of pollution are caused by rapid population growth, high energy demand, and the exploitation of the natural resources of the world. Because of the country’s wide arid land, low rainfall and high temperatures, vulnerability to the consequences of climate change is already a prerequisite. The UAE is still facing water shortages, and low water quality and degradation have been caused by pollution.

10. Nigeria

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Nigeria is the tenth-most contaminated nation in the world, with an average PM2.5 concentration of 44.84. Every year, Nigeria produces more than 3 million tonnes of waste, with unregulated burning of waste being one of the main contributors to poor air quality among all polluted countries. Indoor air pollution is also a major issue in Nigeria as well, with many households having a level of fine particulate matter 20 times higher than the standards for air quality. The number of deaths from air pollution has risen in Nigeria by 40% in the last 30 years.