Canada most polluted country in North America last year: report

 

Canada is reported to be the country with the most air pollution in North America last year. This is stated in the 2023 Annual World Air Quality Report published by IQAir, a Swiss air technology company. Researchers released the report after examining data from more than 30,000 air quality monitoring stations in 134 countries and territories. Canada has become the most polluted country in North America for the first time in history. Canada ranks 93rd in pollution globally. Air pollution has worsened due to forest fires across the country last year.

The fourth most polluted city in North America is Grimshaw, Alberta. Canadian areas reporting the highest levels of pollution were Fort McKay, Fort McMurray, Peace River, Fort Vermillion, Timberlea and Yellowknife.

Data recorded before 2023 show Canada's levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exceeded. The annual PM2.5 guideline of the World Health Organization (WHO) is exceeded by one or two times. But in 2023, the levels increased by two to three times.

Currently, only three Canadian cities, Toronto (105), Vancouver (106) and Montreal (116) feature in the IQAir Live ranking of the world's most polluted cities.