This small Indian city has the worst air quality in the world

The city of Loni is less than one hours’ drive from Delhi, but this rapidly growing industrial base beats the Indian capital when it comes to one unenviable title.

Last year, according to Swiss company IQAir, it had the world’s worst air quality, CNN writes.

Here, fumes from factories, exhaust from traffic and dust from construction produce a toxic mix that makes breathing an act of endurance for its 700,000 residents.

Last year, Loni’s average PM2.5 concentration was 112.5, according to IQ Air – 22 times the World Health Organization’s safe limit.

When inhaled, PM2.5 particulates travel deep into lung tissue where it can enter the bloodstream, and has been linked to asthma, heart and lung disease, cancer, and other respiratory illnesses, as well as cognitive impairment in children.

According to a 2025 study, some of the world’s most polluted cities include Hotan in China, Byrnihat in India, Delhi in India, and Faisalbad in Pakistan.

Three of the world’s top five most polluted cities last year were in India, according to IQ Air, with New Delhi once again emerging as the world’s most polluted capital.