Air pollution is an unseen menace that poses a major threat to human health and the climate. We have created the air quality stripes , a visual tool that captures global air pollution trends, to bring this hidden threat into sharp focus. Inspired by professor of climate science Ed Hawkins’ climate warming stripes , the air quality stripes depict particulate matter (PM) concentrations in 176 cities worldwide since 1850.
These tiny particles, often smaller than one-30th of the width of a human hair , can penetrate deep into the lungs, posing serious health risks. By making air pollution more visible, the stripes provide a clear way to understand how air quality has evolved over time across different regions . These new stripes reveal a stark contrast between significant improvements in air quality across Europe and alarming deterioration in parts of Africa and central Asia.
Cities like London, Brussels and Berlin are represented by lighter blue stripes, indicating substantial reductions in PM levels. This progress reflects stricter air quality regulations and advancements in reducing emissions. Conversely, cities in central Asia and Africa, such as Islamabad, Delhi and Nairobi, are depicted by darker hues, reflecting a worrying rise in pollution.
Rapid urbanisation, industrial growth and limited regulations are worsening air quality issues in these regions, while people living in poorer areas are often exposed to higher concentrations of pollution . In 2021, the World Health .