Severe Air Pollution Persists Globally as U.S. Monitoring Program Ends

In 2024, only seven countries met WHO air quality standards, with Chad and Bangladesh being the most polluted. The end of the US monitoring program will significantly impact pollution data availability, particularly in developing nations, raising concerns regarding air quality management and climate change consequences.

In 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that only seven countries adhered to its air quality standards, with Chad and Bangladesh identified as the most polluted nations, having smog levels more than 15 times higher than WHO guidelines. Data from Swiss air monitoring firm IQAir revealed that the only countries meeting these standards were Australia, New Zealand, the Bahamas, Barbados, Grenada, Estonia, and Iceland.

The accuracy of global air quality assessments is hampered by significant data gaps, particularly in Asia and Africa. Many developing nations depended on air quality sensors located on US embassy properties to monitor pollution levels; however, recent budget cuts ended this program, resulting in the removal of over 17 years of data from airnow.gov, including readings from Chad.

Christi Chester-Schroeder, IQAir’s air quality science manager, noted that the discontinuation of this program would heavily impact Africa, where these sensors often provided the only real-time air quality data available to the public. Chad and other nations experienced challenges in acquiring robust air quality assessments, as evidenced by its exclusion from IQAir’s 2023 list despite being the most polluted country in 2022, exacerbated by Sahara dust and uncontrolled burning of crops.

Last year, Chad’s PM2.5 particulate matter levels rose to an alarming 91.8 micrograms per cubic meter (mg/cu m), far exceeding WHO’s recommended maximum of 5 mg/cu m, a benchmark only achieved by 17 percent of cities surveyed. India ranked fifth on the pollution ladder, where the average PM2.5 fell to 50.6 mg/cu m, yet it still housed 12 of the top 20 most polluted cities, with Byrnihat recording the worst level at 128 mg/cu m.

The influence of climate change on pollution is becoming increasingly apparent, as higher temperatures have led to more intense and prolonged forest fires, particularly in Southeast Asia and South America. Christa Hasenkopf from the University of Chicago’s Energy Policy Institute highlighted that the cessation of the US monitoring program would eliminate reliable data access for at least 34 countries.

The State Department’s monitoring initiative had notably improved air quality in the monitored cities, resulting in enhanced life expectancy and reduced hazard compensations for US diplomats, demonstrating its cost-effectiveness. Hasenkopf described the program’s termination as a significant setback for global air quality initiatives.

The global air quality scenario remains alarming, with only seven countries meeting WHO standards and Chad and Bangladesh suffering from extreme pollution levels. The recent end of the US monitoring program poses a significant challenge as it removes key data sources for many nations, particularly in Africa and Asia. This situation highlights the pressing need for sustained monitoring efforts to combat air quality deterioration exacerbated by climate change.

Original Source: www.arabnews.com