Bi-weekly Review of Air Pollution in Asia

(Air pollution in Asia on February 10, 2018. Source: Berkeley Earth)

In a previous post, I documented seasonally persistent air pollution in Asia over a period of around two months. How about the severity of air pollution in Asia thereafter?

Following the track of air pollution helps us better understand its dynamics. Therefore, I briefly overview the air pollution in Asia over the past two weeks here.

According to the Air Quality Map based on available data, harmful air pollution was persistently evident in Asia from January 28 to February 10, 2018, including China, India, Bangladesh, Turkey, and Mongolia.

In China, PM2.5 concentrations were persistently higher than 100 ug/m3 across the country over the period. A very unhealthy or hazardous air pollution pattern with a PM2.5 concentration higher than 200 ug/m3 was visible most often in Xin Jiang and the areas around and between Beijing and Shanghai.

Dreadful air pollution occurred in northern China on February 8. The black pattern on the Air Quality Map suggested that the PM2.5 concentration in the area was higher than 999 ug/m3, becoming immeasurable. This situation continued on February 9, 2018. The heavy air pollutants floated to central China on February 10, 2018.

In east-northern China, where heavy snow is common throughout the winter, air pollution was relatively lower over the past two weeks compared to other areas. The air pollution pattern with orange or yellow color presented there suggested that PM2.5 concentration was lower than 100 ug/m3.

(Air pollution in Asia from January 28 to February 8, 2018. Adapted from Berkeley Earth under its policy of reuse)

In India, hazardous air pollution patterns were persistently visible in northern areas, including New Delhi, Lucknow, and Kolkata. The heaviest air pollution was observed in New Delhi on January 28, 2018. On February 9, 2018, the PM2.5 concentration in New Delhi was still higher than 480 ug/m3.

Harmful air pollution patterns were also persistently visible in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia’s capital, until February 8, when air pollution became clearer there. Data on air pollution in a wide range of rural Mongolia are not available.

Moderate or unhealthy air pollution was persistently visible in Turkey and Thailand, with PM2.5 concentration fluctuating around 100 ug/m3. Mild or moderate air pollution was also persistent in South Korea and occasionally in Japan.

Air quality in Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines seems to have been good in earlier days but has become poor since February 8, 2018.

Regarding air pollution in other countries, data are not available. It is thus infeasible to assess the severity level of air pollution in these countries over the period. However, relevant reports have suggested that Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates are among the 10 countries with the world’s dirtiest air and that Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia are on the list of 10 nations with the most deaths from air pollution.