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India tops global indoor air pollution chart, has highest annual PM2.5 levels: Report |

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India recorded the highest average annual PM2.5 levels, followed by China, Turkey, UAE and South Korea, a report has said, adding that the country also tops the indoor air pollution chart.
According to Dyson’s first Global Connected Air Quality Data project findings, India recorded the highest average annual PM2.5 levels — 55.18 of Indoor Average PM2.5 (μg/m³) — exceeding the WHO daily PM2.5 air quality guideline every month of the year.
The company said that it analysed indoor air quality information collected by more than 2.5 million Dyson Purifiers from 2022 to 2023 in multiple markets and regions.
What is PM2.5?
PM2.5 refers to particles as small as 2.5 microns in diameter, 1/25th the diameter of a typical human hair. These particles are invisible to the naked eye, and can be inhaled. Sources that produce these particles include combustion – wood burners, or gas cooking and heating – pet dander, ash and dust.
“Our connected air quality data allows us insight into the real problem of indoor air pollution in homes across the world. This gives us a direct understanding of the challenges Dyson Purifiers face in real environments and the knowledge to engineer ever-better machines to tackle those challenges,” said Matt Jennings, engineering director for environmental care.
When it comes to indoor average Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), India ranked 7th among the top 10. VOCs are gas pollutants, including Benzene and Formaldehyde, which can be emitted from activities like cleaning or gas cooking as well as from products such as deodorants and body sprays, candles, furniture and furnishings.
Delhi tops list of most polluted cities, says report
The report noted that Delhi tops the list of PM2.5 levels, amongst the studied cities, with the highest indoor annual average PM2.5 levels of 69.29, followed by Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Busan.
The study also revealed that air inside homes can be significantly worse, particularly during the winter season. Pollution peaks in the winter season, especially in Delhi, with November and December being the most polluted months.
Winter was the most polluted season across the markets with the indoor air getting 41% dirtier during these months. In India, Delhi gets 48% dirtier air in Winters. Furthermore, unlike most places where the air is worst at night, in India, the most polluted time inside was between 7 am and midday.