Ghana, Nigeria, Chad, and Rwanda Featured as Top Polluted Countries in 2024 Report

The 2024 World Air Quality Report highlights severe pollution levels in Ghana, Nigeria, Chad, and Rwanda, marking them among the global leaders in pollution. Chad recorded a PM2.5 level of 91.8 µg/m³, significantly above WHO limits, and Ghana’s pollution continues to escalate, ranking 14th worldwide. This escalating crisis threatens public health and requires urgent governmental action to improve environmental regulations and monitoring.

The 2024 World Air Quality Report has unveiled alarming pollution levels across Africa, placing Ghana, Nigeria, Chad, and Rwanda among the most polluted nations globally. This report indicates a grave air quality crisis that threatens millions of lives, highlighting the urgent need for remedial action.

Chad tops the global pollution list, presenting a staggering PM2.5 concentration of 91.8 µg/m³, almost 18 times the World Health Organization’s recommended limit of 5 µg/m³. Nigeria follows in the 11th position with 40.1 µg/m³, while Rwanda and Ghana have PM2.5 levels of 40.8 µg/m³ and 35.8 µg/m³, respectively, ranking them 9th and 14th in terms of pollution.

PM2.5 particles pose significant health risks, penetrating deep into the lungs and bloodstream and leading to serious respiratory and cardiovascular conditions. These tiny pollutants, being more than four times smaller than dust and ten times thinner than human hair, are highly toxic yet almost imperceptible.

The University of Chicago’s Air Quality Life Index indicates that, in highly polluted regions, life expectancy is reduced by approximately 2.7 years. In Ghana alone, WHO estimates have indicated that 28,000 deaths occur annually due to air pollution, which translates to about 22,192 deaths daily. If this trend persists, it is feared that an alarming rate of deaths will continue without significant interventions.

Ghana’s environmental challenges are particularly alarming, with air pollution levels now seven times higher than the WHO recommended limits. Particularly, Accra has been identified as the 16th most polluted capital city globally with an annual PM2.5 level of 36.3 µg/m³. Interestingly, Kumasi has overtaken Accra, featuring for the first time in the report, with pollution levels of 39.5 µg/m³.

Ghana has experienced a significant rise in pollution over the years: in 2022 the country ranked 27th globally with a PM2.5 level of 30.2 µg/m³, rose to 17th with 33.2 µg/m³ in 2023, and has now reached a record of 35.8 µg/m³ in 2024.

The report outlines the severe air quality crisis in Africa, with five of the 10 most polluted countries worldwide located on the continent. Only 24 out of 54 African nations reported their air quality data, showcasing a troubling gap in monitoring infrastructure. Moreover, established cities, such as Lagos, were omitted from the rankings due to insufficient data.

Air pollution in Ghana has escalated into a public health emergency, with estimates indicating that 28,000 individuals die from poor air quality annually—one death occurring every 19 minutes. The country’s position has significantly dropped from 27th place in 2022 to 14th place in 2024, with an increase in PM2.5 levels that continues to jeopardize public health.

The scope of health impact from PM2.5 exposure encompasses respiratory illnesses, heart conditions, cognitive impairments, and premature death. The economic repercussions are equally alarming; the Clean Air Fund warns that without urgent initiatives, pollution-related costs could reach approximately $137.8 billion by 2040 in Ghana.

In contrast, only 17% of cities globally are compliant with WHO air pollution guidelines, while certain regions successfully maintain cleaner air. Notably, Nieuwoudtville in South Africa is the only city in Africa that meets these standards with a PM2.5 level of 1.2 µg/m³.

Factors contributing to Africa’s pollution crisis include accelerated urbanization, population growth, industrial emissions, and the unregulated incineration of waste. In Kinshasa, PM2.5 levels have escalated by 40% from the previous year, attributed to heightened industrial activities.

Given the deteriorating air quality, there is an increasing clamor for the Ghanaian government to implement stringent environmental policies that would encompass stricter vehicle emissions regulations, investments in renewable energy, improvement of air quality monitoring stations, and prohibitions against harmful burning practices.

As Ghana ranks among the top 15 polluted nations, immediate action is imperative. Without decisive intervention, the ongoing air quality crisis threatens to intensify, posing dire consequences for the health and wellbeing of populations across the continent.

In conclusion, the alarming escalation of air pollution in Ghana and Africa as a whole necessitates immediate action to safeguard public health and mitigate environmental impacts. The 2024 World Air Quality Report serves as a critical reminder of the urgency for stringent environmental policies, increased investments in renewable energy, and enhanced air quality monitoring systems. Unless proactive measures are instituted, the ongoing air quality crisis is poised to become an even greater public health emergency, endangering millions of lives.

Original Source: www.myjoyonline.com