Аннотация
Industrialization has been the principal engine of modern economic growth, yet it has also been one of the most consistent drivers of atmospheric degradation. This paper undertakes a comparative analysis of the relationship between industrialization and ambient air quality across economies at different stages of industrial development, with particular attention to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) as the primary indicatora of pollution burden. Using a synthesis of peer-reviewed literature, institutional reports, and illustrative trend data, the study compares long-industrialized economies such as the United States and Germany with rapidly industrializing economies such as China and India, and with early-stage industrializing economies such as Nigeria. The analysis draws on the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) framework to explain why pollution intensity tends to rise during early and middle stages of industrialization before declining once regulatory capacity, technological sophistication, and public demand for clean air mature. Findings indicate that while historically industrialized nations have decoupled economic growth from pollution through regulation and technological innovation, rapidly industrializing economies continue to experience elevated pollution levels despite recent policy interventions, and early-stage industrializing economies in Sub-Saharan Africa face a compounding burden of industrial and household pollution sources. The paper concludes with policy implications for balancing industrial growth with air quality management in the contemporary global economy.