An international study conducted by the platform Compare the Market evaluated 88 countries and revealed that Argentina ranks 84th, consolidating as the fifth worst country in the world in respiratory health and air quality.
The national score was just 61.86 out of 100, reflecting a worrying outlook.
Overview of the Argentine situation
Although the levels of fine particulate pollution (PM2.5) in Argentina —9.2 µg/m³— are relatively low compared to countries like Egypt or the United Arab Emirates, health indicators drag the rating down:
- Respiratory mortality: 49.19 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, the second highest figure among the ten worst countries, only surpassed by Kazakhstan.
- High prevalence of asthma: 6,299.26 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, which highlights a huge challenge for the public health system.
- High carbon footprint: 365,680,000 tons of CO₂e emitted annually, a factor that deducts points in the environmental assessment.
International comparison
The ranking shows significant contrasts:
The United States ranks first as the worst country, with 5.960 billion tons of CO₂e and more than 10,800 asthma cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
Egypt and the United Arab Emirates also appear among the worst, affected by high levels of air pollution.
At the opposite end, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania lead the index with scores above 90, thanks to their clean air and better respiratory health indicators.
Study methodology
The index combines environmental and health factors:
- Greenhouse gas emissions.
- PM2.5 particulate pollution levels.
- Prevalence of asthma.
- Mortality from respiratory diseases.
Each metric was normalized on a scale of 0 to 1 and then averaged to obtain a total score out of 100. A higher score indicates cleaner air and better respiratory health.
Implications for Argentina
Argentina’s position in the ranking reflects a worrying combination:
- A public health system struggling to control chronic respiratory diseases.
- High mortality linked to lung problems.
- A carbon footprint that contributes to global environmental deterioration.
This scenario demands stronger public policies in terms of air quality, emission reduction, prevention of respiratory diseases, and strengthening of the health system.
Argentina is in a critical situation in terms of respiratory health and air quality. Although its air pollution levels are not the highest, the high mortality and prevalence of asthma place it among the worst countries in the world.
The challenge is twofold: improving healthcare and reducing the environmental footprint to reverse a situation that threatens the health of millions of people.
