The air in the world's big cities, alas, does not give off a frosty freshness. Moreover, the air quality in megalopolises continues to deteriorate from year to year. And one of them has even earned the title of "the dirtiest city in the world." This is recorded by the World Health Organization (WHO), whose database contains over 4,300 cities.
WHO experts say that nine out of ten people on the planet breathe heavily polluted air. Seven million people die every year because of it, mostly in poor countries in Asia and Africa.
The list of the world's dirtiest cities is based on average annual levels of PM2.5 - particles 2.5 micrometers or smaller in diameter. It is so small that it can get into the alveoli and cause serious health problems.
10. Khanna, India
- 114 micrograms of PM2.5 per cubic meter
This ancient city, which was founded 500 years ago, is now the largest grain market in Asia. It is also known for its annual fine particle PM2.5 levels of 114 micrograms per cubic meter, which is well above the WHO recommendation of no more than 10 μg/m3.
9. Cairo, Egypt
- 117 mcg/m3
Egypt's overcrowded capital suffers from many environmental problems, such as noise pollution and chemical emissions from thousands of factories and plants, desert dust that blankets the city, and poor waste management.
The latter problem is particularly acute in the so-called "garbage city" - a suburb of Cairo inhabited by "zaballeen" who sort garbage mainly by hand. Outbreaks of hepatitis are not uncommon there, and even cases of leprosy have been recorded.
8. Ludhiana, India
- 122 mcg/m3
One of the dirtiest cities in the world suffers not only from air pollution but also from water pollution. The industrial enterprises, of which there are many in Ludhiana, are to blame. Ironically, they have also given the city the reputation of being one of the richest in India.
Ludhiana is Asia's largest bicycle manufacturing centre and also produces many parts for German cars BMW and Mercedes.
7. Delhi
- 123 mcg/m3
Currently, there is no such thing as fresh air in the Indian capital. Overcrowding (this problem is acute for most megacities), piles of garbage, a large number of public and private transport lead to the fact that the ecology in Delhi is considered one of the worst on the planet. Not only people suffer from this, but also animals and plants. About 2530 species of animals and 366 plants in India are under threat of extinction.
In November 2017, Delhi was under a thick cloud of dirty grey smog for several days, forcing schools to close. Four factors contributed to this:
- climatic - high humidity coupled with strong wind;
- cultural - holding a festival of lights, during which people launched fireworks and exploded firecrackers;
- social - burning garbage in poor neighborhoods, people tried to somehow warm themselves;
- anthropogenic - operation of the Badarpur coal-fired thermal power plant, burning of garbage and vegetation remains in fields, demolition of buildings.
As a result, the level of air pollution at that time exceeded the WHO standards by at least 30 times.
6. Novi Sad, Serbia
- 142 mcg/m3
Surprisingly, the sixth place in the ranking of "dirty cities" is not occupied by an Indian or even an African metropolis, but by a city located in the north of Serbia. It is a major industrial and financial center of the country. Many tourists call it one of the most beautiful in Serbia. However, stinking landfills and construction waste on the roadsides somewhat spoil the idyllic picture that can be seen walking through the well-kept city center.
5. Raipur, India
- 144 mcg/m3
Raipur's growing population is making it difficult for the city to meet its sanitation needs. Cement factories and marble and granite processing plants are generously "supplying" the air with chemical emissions.
4. Pasakha, Bhutan
- 150 mcg/m3
The city in southern Bhutan is the country's only industrial city, as it is home to several heavy industries. The Tashi Group, the largest private company in Bhutan, operates a chemical plant, a ferroalloy plant, and a soft drink plant. The city is home to 26 factories in total.
As a side effect of their activities, the city is choked by bad air and a shortage of water, as it is needed to service the factories.
3. Al Jubail, Saudi Arabia
- 152 mcg/m3
Oil is a word that is inextricably linked with the city of Al Jubail. While the many factories producing lubricants, gasoline and diesel fuel may not be good for the city's atmosphere, they are good for the country's budget.
Despite the polluted air, Jubail is one of the most comfortable cities in Saudi Arabia, with lagoons and beaches and picturesque gardens irrigated with desalinated water.
2. Allahabad, India
- 170 mcg/m3
The birthplace of the prominent political figure Jawaharlal Nehru and one of the most important places for Indian pilgrims has the beautiful name "Garden of Allah" (translated from Arabic and Persian).
However, the city is located at the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers, two of the dirtiest rivers on Earth. One look at a photo of the Yamuna River, one of the most toxic bodies of water in the world, and you will be reminded of a giant dump rather than a sacred garden. Bathing in it is like swimming in raw sewage. The Ganges (except in places close to its source) is even worse; only a reckless or very pious person would bathe in it.
Frequent traffic and lack of green space also contribute to air pollution in Allahabad.
1. Gwalior, India
- 176 mcg/m3
Here is the WHO's answer to the question of which city is the dirtiest in the world. The previous report named Zabol in Iran as the most polluted city. However, according to the latest version of the WHO database, Zabol has reduced its pollution levels by four times and now appears cleaner than Australia's capital Canberra.
Many residents of Gwalior suffer from waterborne diseases because the liquid they drink comes from polluted areas. Large dumpsites, overcrowding and noise pollution also contribute to the risk of serious health problems.
There is no data on the quality of outdoor air in Russia, since stations collecting such data are only in Moscow. The Ministry of Natural Resources compiled list of the dirtiest cities in Russia on ecology and proposed a bill on environmental information. One can only hope that measures to improve the environment will allow citizens to breathe freely without fearing for their health.
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