All that breathes

Air pollution is absent from the political agenda

India’s proud record as one of the world’s fastest-growing large economies is being overtaken by its reputation as one of the world’s most polluted countries. According to the World Air Quality Report, by Swiss organisation IQAir, India ranks as the world’s third-most polluted country — behind only Bangladesh and Pakistan. The ranking is based on the concentration in the air of particulate matter of 2.5 microns (1 micron is one-thousandth of 1 mm) or less in diameter (PM2.5), which is associated with lung and heart diseases, cancer, and a high incidence of early deaths. India recorded an annual average PM2.5