INDIANAPOLIS — Nearly 90% of humans in the world experienced unhealthy air in 2022, according to an air quality report released from a Swiss tech company that specializes in protection against airborne pollutants.
Indianapolis is one of the worst polluted major cities in the United States.
Data collected from more than 30,000 air quality monitoring stations across 7,323 locations in 131 countries, territories, and regions was analyzed by IQAir’s air quality scientists for the study.
They tracked PM2.5, a type of fine particulate matter, or tiny particles in the air that reduce visibility and cause the air to appear hazy. Growing bodies of research suggest PM2.5 particles have been suggested to kill the most people.
Exposure to PM2.5 has been linked to premature death in people with heart or lung disease, nonfatal heart attacks, and irregular heartbeats. One study from Harvard found more exposure to PM2.5 is linked to higher rates of death from Covid-19.
In the U.S., IQAir claims the most polluted major cities were Columbus, Ohio, followed by Atlanta, Chicago, Indianapolis and Dallas. Detroit also suffered from high levels of air pollution.
Air quality in Columbus hit 13.1 micrograms of PM 2.5 particles per cubic meter in 2022 according to the study, making it the most polluted major city in the U.S.
WHO first published air quality guidance in 2005, and made the benchmark for acceptable levels of air pollution less than 10 micrograms of PM2.5 per cubic meter. They changed those guidelines to below 5 micrograms per cubic meter in 2005.
Indianapolis had an average PM2.5 concentration of 11.3 in 2022.
Just six countries met the WHO's updated guidelines - Australia, Estonia, Finland, Grenada, Iceland and New Zealand.
The PM2.5 data in the report was measured in units of micrograms per cubic meter.
Chad was the most polluted country in the world, and had PM2.5 levels 17 times higher than WHO guidelines, according to the report.
Most polluted countries in 2022
- Chad had more than 17 times higher than the WHO PM2.5 annual guideline
- Iraq had more than 16 times higher than the WHO PM2.5 annual guideline
- Pakistan had more than 14 times higher than the WHO PM2.5 annual guideline
- Bahrain had more than 13 times higher than the WHO PM2.5 annual guideline
- Bangladesh had more than 13 times higher than the WHO PM2.5 annual guideline
Most polluted major cities in the U.S.
- Columbus, Ohio
- Atlanta, Georgia
- Chicago, Illinois
- Indianapolis, Indiana
- Dallas, Texas
