Lethal air pollution plagues South Asia

In the first month of 2025, severe air pollution has affected South Asian countries such as Pakistan, Nepal, India and Bangladesh – notably spreading cancer-inducing particulate matter known as PM2.5

Signature Bridge,
New Delhi

PM2.5 POLLUTION – Composite image
Jan 1-29, 2025, cubic micrometers (μm3)

0 30 60 90 120 150 180 210 240

T I B E T
NEPAL
PAKISTAN
INDIA
BANGLADESH

Sri Lanka

Karachi
New Delhi
Kathmandu
Dhaka

Indian
Ocean

500km
300 miles

DEADLY DUST
PM2.5: Fine particulate
matter that is 2.5
microns (μm) or
less in width

Human
hair

50μm-70μm

2.5μm
to scale

When inhaled, PM2.5
can enter bloodstream
and is linked to asthma,
heart disease, lung
disease and cancer

Sources: Copernicus, California Air Resources Board
Pictures: Getty Images, Copernicus Sentinel-2
© GRAPHIC NEWS