Ula Birnagar 10th Most Polluted City in World According to IQAir 2025 Report A small town in Nadia, West Bengal, known as Ula Birnagar, has been ranked as the 10th most polluted city globally in the World Air Quality Report 2025, released by IQAir. The report highlights that Ula, along with several towns on the outskirts of Kolkata, faces severe air pollution, making it one of the most contaminated regions in Bengal. The findings have sparked concerns about public health and environmental management in the area. According to the report, Ula’s air quality in 2025 was measured at a PM2.5 level of 86.8 micrograms per cubic metre, which is over 17 times the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended safe limit of 5 micrograms. This level of pollution is particularly alarming because PM2.5 particles are microscopic and can penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream, leading to serious respiratory and cardiovascular issues. The West Bengal Pollution Control Board’s remote sensors confirmed these findings, recording a PM2.5 value of 113 micrograms and an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 191 at 7 p.m. on Sunday. Such an AQI level is expected to cause breathing discomfort for individuals with pre-existing lung or heart conditions. The report also noted that Kolkata, while showing improved air quality post-COVID-19, remains more polluted than the national average. The city ranked 77th globally with an annual PM2.5 average of 51 micrograms per cubic metre, compared to India’s national average of 40 micrograms. Other heavily polluted cities in Bengal include Madhyamgram, Barrackpur, and Baruipur, which followed Ula in the rankings. Additional cities such as Howrah, Bali, Durgapur, Asansol, Haldia, Siliguri, and Kolkata were also listed among the most polluted in the region.#kolkata #iqair #ula_birnagar #west_bengal_pollution_control_board #centre_for_science_and_environment
Cleanest and Dirtiest Air in U.S. Revealed The IQAir 8th annual World Air Quality Report, released in 2025, provided a detailed analysis of global air pollution trends, emphasizing the significant impact of wildfires exacerbated by climate change. The report examined data from 9,446 cities across 143 countries, regions, and territories, revealing alarming levels of particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) pollution. PM2.5, a type of fine inhalable particle with diameters of 2.5 micrometers or smaller, poses serious health risks when inhaled. The findings highlighted a global decline in cities meeting the World Health Organization’s (WHO) annual average PM2.5 guideline, with only 14% of cities achieving this standard in 2025, compared to 17% in 2024. Wildfires emerged as a critical factor in worsening air quality, particularly in North America and Europe. Canada, which experienced its second-worst wildfire season on record, became the most polluted country in Northern America for the second time in the report’s history. The smoke from these fires significantly elevated PM2.5 levels across the United States, affecting regions such as the Great Lakes states during the summer and the Pacific Northwest in the fall. In the U.S., annual average PM2.5 levels rose to 7.3 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m³), a stark increase compared to previous years. The report identified El Paso, Texas, as the most polluted major U.S. city in 2025. Historic dust storms, the most severe since the 1930s, triggered a 46% spike in PM2.5 levels, reaching 11.4 µg/m³. The Southeast Los Angeles region, including areas like Cudahy, East Los Angeles, and Huntington Park, was named the most polluted area in the country due to its vulnerability to wildland-urban interface fires.#canada #iqair #world_air_quality_report #wildfires #el_paso_texas
Pakistan ranked most polluted country in 2025, data shows A global air quality report released by Swiss firm IQAir revealed Pakistan as the most polluted country in 2025, with PM2.5 levels exceeding the World Health Organization’s safety thresholds. The report highlighted significant disparities in air quality across regions, noting that 130 out of 143 monitored countries and territories failed to meet the WHO guideline of less than 5 micrograms per cubic metre of PM2.5. Bangladesh and Tajikistan followed Pakistan on the list of the most polluted nations, while Chad, which was previously the smoggiest country in 2024, ranked fourth in 2025. However, the decline in PM2.5 levels in Chad was attributed to data gaps rather than actual improvements. The report also pointed to the impact of data collection challenges, particularly after the United States discontinued a global monitoring program in March 2025. This program, which aggregated pollution data from U.S. embassies and consulates, was shut down due to budget constraints. The loss of this data source led to apparent drops in PM2.5 levels in some regions, but experts warned that the absence of reliable data made it impossible to confirm these trends. Christi Chester Schroeder, lead author of the IQAir report, emphasized that the U.S. decision created significant gaps in pollution tracking, excluding countries like Burundi, Turkmenistan, and Togo from the 2025 analysis. The most polluted cities in 2025 were concentrated in India, Pakistan, and China, with India’s Loni recording the highest PM2.5 levels at 112.5 micrograms per cubic metre, followed by Hotan in Xinjiang at 109.6 micrograms. The top 25 most polluted cities globally were all located in these three countries.#united_states #world_health_organization #iqair #burundi #turkmenistan
Only 13 countries in the world breathe safe air. Three of them are in Europe India is home to the world’s most polluted city, according to IQAir’s newly released World Air Quality Report. Only 14 percent of cities worldwide breathe safe air, a decline from 17 percent in the previous year. The Swiss pollution monitoring company IQAir analyzed data from 9,446 cities across 143 countries, regions, and territories for its 2025 report. The findings reveal a global decline in air quality, driven largely by human-caused climate change. Wildfire smoke, dust storms, and extreme weather events intensified by fossil fuel use were key contributors to poor air quality in 2025. In Europe, the worst wildfire year on record saw blazes sweep across the continent, peaking in August with devastating impacts on farms, woodlands, and homes. The extreme weather caused at least €43 billion in short-term economic losses, fueled by deadly heatwaves, floods, and droughts. The World Health Organization (WHO) sets safe limits for PM2.5, fine particulate matter that poses serious health risks. These microscopic particles, smaller than 2.5 micrometers, can penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream, linking to respiratory issues, cardiovascular diseases, and long-term illnesses like cancer. Only three European countries met the WHO’s annual PM2.5 guideline of 5 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m³) in 2025: Andorra, Estonia, and Iceland. These nations, along with 10 other territories globally, are among the 13 countries and regions that remained within safe limits. The remaining 130 countries—91 percent of the total—did not meet the guidelines. The five most polluted countries were Pakistan (67.3 µg/m³), Bangladesh (66.1 µg/m³), Tajikistan (57.3 µg/m³), Chad (53.6 µg/m³), and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (50.2 µg/m³).#world_health_organization #estonia #iqair #andorra #iceland
India's Loni Named World's Most Polluted City Loni, a city in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, has been named the most polluted city globally in 2025, according to a report by the Swiss air quality monitoring firm IQAir. The city recorded an average PM2.5 pollution level of 112.5 micrograms per cubic meter, surpassing other major urban centers. The report highlights the severe air quality challenges faced by Loni, which is part of a broader trend of pollution in Indian cities. The findings place Loni among the top four most polluted cities worldwide, alongside three other Indian cities, including New Delhi. This ranking underscores the urgent need for improved environmental policies and stricter enforcement of pollution control measures. The report also notes that PM2.5 levels in these cities remain significantly higher than the World Health Organization’s recommended limits, posing serious health risks to residents. The pollution crisis in Loni is attributed to a combination of factors, including industrial emissions, vehicular exhaust, and seasonal agricultural burning in surrounding regions. The city’s location in a densely populated area exacerbates the problem, as pollutants accumulate and spread across the region. Experts warn that prolonged exposure to such high levels of particulate matter can lead to respiratory diseases, cardiovascular issues, and other health complications. The IQAir report also highlights the broader context of air pollution in India, where several cities consistently rank among the world’s most polluted. While some cities have made progress in reducing emissions through policy interventions, others continue to struggle with outdated infrastructure and limited enforcement of environmental regulations.#uttar_pradesh #new_delhi #iqair #loni #byrnihat
