Air quality data reveals most polluted major US cities in 2023

The Most Polluted Cities in the United States

The 10 most polluted major cities in the United States last year all experienced air quality that exceeded World Health Organization guidelines by two-three times, according to an annual report by Swiss air technology company IQAir.

Columbus, Ohio: America’s Most Polluted City

For the second year running, Columbus, Ohio, was America’s most polluted major city, reporting an annual average 13.9 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m³) of particulate pollutants smaller than 2.5 microns in diameter (PM2.5), nearly three times the WHO’s safety standard of 5 µg/m³.

Other cities on the list include:

1. Chicago, Illinois (13 µg/m³)
2. Indianapolis, Indiana (12.6 µg/m³)
3. Nashville, Tennessee (12.3 µg/m³)
4. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (11.9 µg/m³)
5. New York City, New York (11.6 µg/m³)
6. Charlotte, North Carolina (11.1 µg/m³)
7. Louisville, Kentucky (11 µg/m³)
8. Fort Worth, Texas (10.7 µg/m³)
9. Houston, Texas (10.6 µg/m³)

The U.S.’s most polluted cities were still several times cleaner than the top three on IQAir’s separate population weighted list of capital cities around the world: New Delhi, India (92.7 µg/m³); Dakha, Bangladesh (80.2 µg/m³); and Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso (46.6 µg/m³).

Washington, D.C., placed No. 73 with annual average PM2.5 levels of 11.7 µg/m³.

The Health Risks of PM2.5

The World Health Organization considers PM2.5 as a significant environmental health risk, associated with severe health problems including cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, as well as lower life expectancy.

“PM2.5 penetrates every cell of our bodies, from the cells in our skin to the cells deep in our lungs, and even in your brain,” said Frank Hammes, IQAir’s global CEO.

Air Quality Data Collection

IQAir’s latest report relies on data collected by a mixture of government- and privately managed monitoring stations on the ground. To be included in its report, air quality data for a city, country, region or territory had to be available for at least 60 percent of the hours of the year, equivalent to 5,256 of 8,760 total hours.

The lack of widespread monitoring stations in many developing nations meant many countries were excluded from the report. The company said it analyzed data from 30,000 stations in 134 countries, territories or regions.

Around the World

Only seven countries on the Swiss company’s list met the WHO’s guidelines of 5 µg/m³ or less in 2023: Australia, Estonia, Finland, Grenada, Iceland, Mauritius and New Zealand.

In Central and South Asia, 14 of the 15 most polluted cities were in India, and one was in Pakistan. India’s Begusarai (118.9 µg/m³) was the world’s most polluted city last year.

China led East Asia with all of the region’s top 15 most polluted cities. Eleven of the 15 least polluted cities in the region were found in Japan.

Despite global efforts to improve air quality, over 90 percent of the world’s population is exposed to levels beyond the WHO’s safety limit. Natural sources of pollutants like dust and fires remain significant factors.

IQAir recommended governments allocate additional funds toward renewable energy projects and adopt effective forest management strategies to mitigate the risk of wildfires.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution and contamination.
   • Indicator: PM2.5 levels in major cities exceeding WHO guidelines.

2. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management.
   • Indicator: PM2.5 levels in major cities exceeding WHO guidelines.

3. SDG 13: Climate Action

   • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
   • Indicator: Increase in PM2.5 levels due to Canada’s wildfires affecting the Upper Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Analysis

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

   The issues highlighted in the article are connected to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

   • Under SDG 3, the specific target is to substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution and contamination (Target 3.9).
   • Under SDG 11, the specific target is to reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality (Target 11.6).
   • Under SDG 13, the specific target is to strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters (Target 13.1).

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

   • The article mentions PM2.5 levels in major cities exceeding WHO guidelines as an indicator for both SDG 3 and SDG 11.
   • The article also implies an indicator for SDG 13, which is the increase in PM2.5 levels due to Canada’s wildfires affecting certain regions.

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Source: newsweek.com

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