Delhi and Kolkata are the two most polluted cities in the world in terms of average annual population-weighted PM 2.5 exposure, according to a new report, Air Pollution and Health in Cities, released by the Health Effects Institute’s (HEI) State of Global Air Initiative.
Mumbai was ranked 14th. No other Indian city features in the top 20. In terms of the highest disease burden from a PM 2.5-related ailment, though, Beijing, with 124 attributable deaths per 100,000 people was the worst. Delhi came in at 6th, with 106 deaths per 100,000 and Kolkata at 8th with 99. Five Chinese cities were in the top 20.
A total of 7,000 cities were covered by the study, although only 103, the most populous across six regions were considered for the ranking.
In terms of NO2 exposure, Shanghai was the worst in terms of average exposure, and no Indian city was in the top 20.