The air in the world's major cities, alas, doesn't exude frosty freshness. Moreover, air quality in megacities continues to deteriorate year after year. One city has even earned the title of "the dirtiest city in the world." This is according to the World Health Organization (WHO), whose database contains over 4,300 cities.
WHO experts claim that nine out of ten people on the planet breathe severely polluted air. This causes seven million deaths each year, 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. These particles are so small that they can enter the alveoli and cause serious health problems.
10. Khanna, India
- 114 micrograms of PM2.5 per cubic meter
This ancient city, founded 500 years ago, is currently the largest grain market in Asia. It is also known for its annual fine particle PM2.5 levels, which reach 114 micrograms per cubic meter, far exceeding the WHO recommendation of no more than 10 micrograms/m³.
9. Cairo, Egypt
- 117 μg/m3
Egypt's overcrowded capital suffers from numerous 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 the Zaballeen, who sort garbage primarily by hand. Outbreaks of hepatitis are common there, and cases of leprosy have even been recorded.
8. Ludhiana, India
- 122 μg/m3
One of the world's most polluted cities suffers not only from air pollution but also from water pollution. Industrial enterprises, of which Ludhiana is abundant, are to blame. Ironically, they have also earned the city its reputation as one of the richest in India.
Ludhiana is Asia's largest bicycle manufacturing centre and also produces many parts for German cars such as BMW and Mercedes.
7. Delhi
- 123 μg/m3
Fresh air is currently a non-existent commodity in the Indian capital. Overcrowding (a serious problem for most megacities), piles of garbage, and the sheer volume of public and private transport mean Delhi's environmental conditions are considered among the worst on the planet. This affects not only people but also animals and plants. Approximately 2,530 animal species and 366 plant species in India are threatened with extinction.
In November 2017, Delhi was blanketed by a thick cloud of dirty gray 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 this time exceeded the WHO standards by at least 30 times.
6. Novi Sad, Serbia
- 142 μg/m3
Surprisingly, sixth place on the list of "dirtiest cities" isn't occupied by an Indian or even an African metropolis, but by a city located in northern Serbia. It is a major industrial and financial center of the country. Many tourists call it one of the most beautiful in Serbia. However, fetid landfills and construction debris on the roadsides somewhat spoil the idyllic scene that can be seen when walking through the well-maintained city center.
5. Raipur, India
- 144 μg/m3
Raipur's population is constantly growing, and the city is struggling to meet their sanitation needs. Meanwhile, cement factories and marble and granite processing plants generously "supply" the air with chemical emissions.
4. Pasakha, Bhutan
- 150 μg/m3
This city in southern Bhutan is the country's only industrial center, home to several heavy industries. The Tashi Group, Bhutan's largest private company, operates a chemical plant, a ferroalloy plant, and a soft drink factory. 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 μg/m3
Oil is a word inextricably linked with the city of Al Jubail. While the numerous factories producing lubricants, gasoline, and diesel fuel may not be particularly beneficial to the city's atmosphere, they are beneficial to the country's budget.
Despite its polluted air, Jubail is one of the most well-maintained cities in Saudi Arabia. It boasts lagoons with beaches and picturesque gardens irrigated with desalinated water.
2. Allahabad, India
- 170 μg/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. Just looking at a photo of the Yamuna River—one of the most toxic bodies of water in the world—conjures up images of a gigantic landfill rather than a sacred garden. Bathing in it is comparable to swimming in raw sewage. The Ganges (except in places close to its source) is even worse; only the reckless or the very pious would bathe in it.
Heavy traffic and a lack of green space also contribute to air pollution in Allahabad.
1. Gwalior, India
- 176 μg/m3
Here's the WHO's answer to the question of which city is the most polluted 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 a factor of four and now appears cleaner than Australia's capital, Canberra.
Many residents of Gwalior suffer from waterborne diseases because the water they drink comes from polluted areas. Large illegal dumps, overcrowding, and noise pollution also contribute to the risk of serious health problems.
There is no data on outdoor air quality in Russia, as stations collecting such data are only in Moscow. The Ministry of Natural Resources compiled List of the dirtiest cities in Russia The Environmental Protection Agency has proposed a bill on environmental information. One can only hope that environmental improvement measures will allow citizens to breathe freely without fearing for their well-being.