Fine dust pollution: only 7 countries comply with WHO guidelines

L’fine dust pollution it’s a problem that affects cities and countries around the world. However, some areas present more critical issues than others. There are 7, according to a study conducted by the Swiss air quality technology company IQAirthe countries that have recorded the best results and have largely met the limits established by the WHO in 2023. But what risks are there for health due to fine particles? And why is it so difficult to stem this particular problem?

To answer these questions, it is first necessary to remember what we mean when we talk about “fine dust”. Let’s briefly see what it is and what these particles cause.

Fine dust: what they are, what they produce and where they are found

When we talk about “fine dust” we are essentially referring to those tiny particles present in the air we breathe every day. Such particles are also called “atmospheric particulates”, better known by their acronyms PM2,5 e PM10a sort of dust that causes serious damage to our health.

These substances, in fact, are connected to a greater risk of premature deathsas they can enter the respiratory tract and cause the development of heart or lung diseases, even fatal ones. Although fine particles have both natural and anthropogenic origins, human activities are mainly responsible for the emission of these substances into the air we breathe.

The emission of particulate matter is in fact connected to anthropic activities such as use of fossil fuelscar traffic, building heating and industrial processes.

Particulate matter: the limits established by the WHO

To stem the problem linked to the presence of fine dust in the airnumerous initiatives have been launched and certain limits on emissions have been imposed. The WHO, for example, has established that the daily average of PM10 must not exceed 45 µg/m³ (while the annual average is a maximum of 15 µg/m³). As for the PM2.5the daily average is 15 µg/m³, while the annual average is a maximum of 5 µg/m³.

Well, according to the annual report drawn up by the company, which examined more than 30,000 air quality monitoring stations in 134 countries and regions, it emerged that only 7 of these respect the limits established by the WHO in terms of emissions.

Unfortunately, however, not all countries in the world have been monitored in a widespread manner, as the appropriate air quality control stations were often missing.

Pollution by fine particles: the most polluting countries and the least polluting ones

But let’s see the ranking of merit (and demerit) regarding the emission of fine particles. At the top of the ranking, among the More virtuous countriesstand out:

1. Australia
2. Estonia
3. Finland
4. Grenada
5. Iceland
6. Mauritius
7. New Zealand.

On the other hand, among the countries where air quality is significantly worse are Bangladesh (with a concentration of fine particles more than 15 times higher than the limits established by the WHO), Pakistan, India , Tajikistan, Burkina Faso, Iraq and the United Arab Emirates.

These are the countries that are at the bottom of the ranking, with maximum PM₂,₅ levels that exceed the limits established by the WHO by 10 times or more.

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