WHO: Only 7 countries in the world meet air quality standards
2025-03-11 12:46:47
TiranaPost
Only seven countries worldwide managed to meet World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for the presence of toxic PM2.5 particles last year, according to an analysis by Swiss company IQAir.
Countries with the cleanest air
According to the report, Australia, New Zealand, Estonia, Iceland and several small island states are the only countries where the concentration of PM2.5 particles remains below the recommended limit of 5 micrograms per cubic meter of air.
In contrast, countries like Chad, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Congo and India were among the most polluted, with toxicity levels up to 10 times higher than WHO guidelines during 2024.
Air pollution and its impact on health
The study highlights that air pollution is the second-largest global health risk factor, right behind high blood pressure. Doctors estimate that millions of lives could be saved each year if countries implemented WHO air quality standards.
“Air pollution doesn’t kill immediately, but its effects can be felt after two or three decades, unless exposure is extreme,” explains Frank Hames, CEO of IQAir.
