Data | Which major Indian cities exceed WHO's revised pollution limits?
The Hindu
As many as 95.6 deaths per one lakh people were recorded in India due to PM2.5 exposure in 2019
The . The average 24-hour concentration of PM2.5 (particulate matter with diameter less than 2.5 microns) has been revised downwards to 15μg/m3 from 25μg/m3. In India, according to the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), last revised in 2009, the average daily PM2.5 limit is much higher at 60μg/m3. In 2021, in a majority of the Indian cities, pollution levels exceeded the WHO's 2005 guideline limits on most days. The number of cities which flout the guideline limits increases further if the WHO's current standards are considered. Worryingly, .
While the WHO's latest global air pollution standard allows for an average of only 15μg/m3 of PM2.5 concentration in a 24-hour period, India's permissible limit is 60μg/m3. A look at how other parameters set by the WHO compare with Indian standards.