{
  "id": 10885470,
  "title": "Asia hardest hit: Half the population breathing toxic ozone while heatwaves rage",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/asia-hardest-hit-half-the-population-breathing-toxic-ozone-while",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-30T07:06:51.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail-malaymail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/life/2026/09/30/asia-hardest-hit-half-the-population-breathing-toxic-ozone-while-heatwaves-rage/237126"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In the first eight months of 2026, a significant portion of the global population experienced extremely poor air quality, primarily due to a combination of heatwaves, wildfires, and human-caused emissions, according to a European Union report. The Copernicus Climate Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) found that 34 percent of the world's population, or approximately 2.7 billion people, were exposed to \"extremely poor\" air quality between January 1 and September 15.\n\nAsia had the highest rate of ozone pollution exposure, with 53 percent of its population breathing \"extremely poor\" air, while 22 percent faced \"very poor\" ozone levels. This is largely attributed to widespread industrialization, economic development, transportation, wildfires, and the burning of agricultural residue. Cities such as New Delhi, Dhaka, Chongqing in China, and Lahore in Pakistan were among those experiencing hazardous ozone levels.\n\nWhile Europe and North America have made progress in reducing other harmful air pollutants, ozone remains a more challenging pollutant to control due to the conditions it favors in a changing climate. In North America, 45 percent of the population was exposed to \"poor\" or \"very poor\" air quality, and 8 percent of Africa's population endured \"extremely poor\" air quality. SAo Paulo and Rio de Janeiro in Brazil also faced high ozone levels, though 81 percent of South America's population experienced \"good\" or \"fair\" air quality.\n\nCAMS director Laurence Rouil emphasized that air pollution does not respect borders, as it can travel thousands of kilometers from its source. The World Health Organization sets a maximum recommended ozone exposure level of 100 micrograms per cubic meter over an eight-hour period. However, the EU's ozone pollution levels were still \"extremely poor\" for two thirds of its population.",
  "summary": "PARIS, Sept 30 — Heatwaves and wildfires combined with human-caused emissions this year combined to expose one thi...",
  "key_points": [
    "53% of Asia's population breathes extremely poor air quality",
    "Heatwaves, wildfires, and industrialization drive ozone pollution",
    "WHO recommends maximum ozone exposure of 100 micrograms per cubic meter"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}