Puerto Rico meets WHO air standards guidelines in 2023
Two large municipalities in Puerto Rico, San Juan and San Germán, have been highlighted as the least polluted cities in Latin America, according to the World Air Quality Report 2023 by IQAir, a Swiss air quality technology company.
These cities met the World Health Organization’s (WHO) air quality guidelines, setting the standard for particulate matter, known as PM2.5, at 2.5 microns or less in diameter.
San Juan was the least polluted city among 15 locations in the Latin American region, with a PM2.5 level of 2.7, while San Germán ranked second with a measurement of 3.5. In contrast, Bayamón was identified as Puerto Rico’s most polluted city, with a PM2.5 level of 8.7.
Other municipalities meeting the WHO guidelines included Guayanilla with a PM2.5 level of 4.4, Camuy at 3.8, and Caguas at 3.6.
Puerto Rico was placed 23rd in air quality within Latin America, showcasing a particulate matter index of 4.5 – substantially lower than Mexico (20.1), El Salvador (19.5), Peru (18.8) and Chile (18.8).
Globally, Puerto Rico ranked 127 out of 134 countries in terms of pollution levels, with the highest rankings indicating lower pollution levels. Since 2020, the island has consistently maintained PM2.5 levels between 4.5 and 4.8.
Bangladesh, with an estimated population of 169 million, topped the list with the worst air quality in 2023.
Earlier in the year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published its final rule on National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter, setting the annual PM2.5 standard at 9 micrograms per cubic meter “to provide increased public health protection, consistent with the available health science.”
The EPA also updated the Air Quality Index “to improve public communications about the risks from PM2.5 exposures and making changes to the monitoring network to enhance protection of air quality in communities overburdened by air pollution.”
Prolonged exposure to high levels of particulate matter can cause significant health issues, including heart attacks and premature death.
According to IQAir, Puerto Rico has air quality testing stations in Cataño, Caguas, Camuy, Mayagüez, San Germán and Manatí.
