Dr Malini Yugendran
Auckland, March 14, 2023
New Zealand is among only six countries meeting air quality standards, while India’s air is over six times the limit.
IQAir’s World Air Quality Report 2022 has revealed that New Zealand is one of only six countries out of 131 that meets the World Health Organisation’s PM2.5 air pollution guideline.
PM2.5 stands for “particulate matter 2.5,” which refers to fine particles that are 2.5 micrometers or smaller in diameter. These tiny particles can be inhaled deep into the lungs, and long-term exposure to PM2.5 has been linked to a range of health problems, including respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
“Too many people around the world don’t know that they are breathing polluted air. Air pollution monitors provide hard data that can inspire communities to demand change and hold polluters to account… Everyone deserves to have their health protected from air pollution,” stated Aidan Farrow, Sr. Air Quality Scientist, Greenpeace International.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has set a guideline for PM2.5 concentration in outdoor air at an average of five micrograms per cubic meter of air (µg/m3) or less. This means that the concentration of PM2.5 in the air should not exceed five µg/m3 on average over a specified period of time, in order to protect public health.
The report analysed data from over 30,000 air quality monitoring stations across 7,323 locations. It reported that the top countries are Australia, Estonia, Finland, Grenada, Iceland, and New Zealand.
New Zealand’s Air Quality and Challenges
Air quality monitoring in New Zealand is conducted by regional councils and unitary authorities as part of their responsibilities under the Resource Management Act 1991. The National Environmental Standards for Air Quality (NES-AQ) set limits on outdoor air pollutants such as PM10, PM2.5, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, and ozone. The NES-AQ allows some pollutants to exceed their limits a few times per year. The NES-AQ focuses on short-term time frames, whereas National Ambient Air Quality Guidelines (NAAQG) and World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines focus on annual averages to protect communities from the long-term or chronic health impacts of air pollution.
New Zealand has a history of community-led air quality monitoring initiatives. One is the Breathe Easy Project, which uses low-cost sensors to measure air quality in Auckland, Christchurch, and Wellington. The data collected from these sensors is publicly available on the project’s website, allowing communities to make informed decisions about their exposure to air pollution.
The New Zealand government has taken steps to address these issues, including investing in public transport and electric vehicle infrastructure, promoting walking and cycling, and introducing clean energy initiatives.
New Zealand’s top sources of air pollution are transport and wood burners, particularly during the winter season.
Five most polluted countries
The report revealed that the top five most polluted countries in 2022 were Chad, Iraq, Pakistan, Bahrain, and Bangladesh. These countries exceeded the WHO PM2.5 annual guideline by more than 13 times.
India
The report found that India’s national average for PM2.5 was 60.1 µg/m3, which is more than six times the limit recommended by the World Health Organisation. The report also identified New Delhi as the most polluted capital city in the world, with an average PM2.5 level of 139.3 µg/m3
Most polluted cities in the U.S.
The report also shed light on the most polluted cities in the U.S. The most polluted city in the U.S. was Coffeyville, Kansas. The most polluted major U.S. city was Columbus, Ohio, followed by Atlanta, Chicago, Indianapolis, and Dallas. Moreover, California was home to 10 of the 15 most polluted cities in the U.S., while Las Vegas was deemed the cleanest major city in the U.S.
Dr Malini Yugendran is an Indian Newslink Reporter based in Auckland.
