The dirtiest country in the world: ranking of the worst states. List of the most polluted cities in the world Rating of the most polluted cities in the world

The air in the big cities of the world, alas, does not give off frosty freshness. Moreover, from year to year, air quality in megacities continues to deteriorate. And one of them even earned the title of “the dirtiest city in the world.” This is recorded by the World Health Organization (WHO), in whose database there are over 4,300 cities.

WHO experts say that nine out of ten people on the planet breathe heavily polluted air. Because of this, seven million people die every year, mostly from poor countries in Asia and Africa.

Here is a list of the dirtiest cities in the world. It is based on data on average annual levels of PM2.5 - particles 2.5 micrometers or even 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 dates back 500 years, is now the largest grain market in Asia. It is also known for having an annual level of fine PM2.5 particles of 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 overpopulated capital suffers from many environmental problems, such as noise pollution and chemical emissions from thousands of factories, desert dust that blankets the city, and poor waste management.

The latter problem is especially acute in the so-called “garbage city” - a suburb of Cairo, where “zaballeen” live, sorting garbage mainly by hand. There are frequent outbreaks of hepatitis, and even cases of leprosy (leprosy) have been recorded.

8. Ludhiana, India - 122 µg/m3

One of the dirtiest cities in the world suffers not only from air pollution, but also from water pollution. Industrial enterprises, of which there are a lot in Ludhiana, are to blame for this. Ironically, they also ensured the city's reputation as one of the richest in India.

Ludhiana is Asia's largest bicycle manufacturing center; many parts for German BMW and Mercedes cars are also produced here.

7. Delhi - 123 µg/m3

Currently, there is no such thing as fresh air in the Indian capital. Overpopulation (this problem is acute for most megacities), piles of garbage, a large number of public and personal transport lead to the fact that the environment in Delhi is considered one of the worst on the planet. Not only people, but also animals and plants suffer from this. About 2,530 species of animals and 366 plants are threatened with extinction in India.

In November 2017, Delhi was under a dense cloud of dirty gray smog for several days, which even forced schools to close. Four factors contributed to this:

  1. climatic - high humidity coupled with strong winds;
  2. cultural - holding a festival of lights, during which people launched fireworks and exploded firecrackers;
  3. social - burning garbage in poor neighborhoods, people tried to somehow warm up;
  4. anthropogenic - operation of the Badarpur coal-fired thermal power plant, burning of garbage and vegetation residues in the fields, demolition of buildings.

As a result, the level of air pollution at this time exceeded WHO standards by at least 30 times.

6. Novi Sad, Serbia - 142 µg/m3

Surprisingly, sixth place in the ranking of “dirty cities” is not an Indian or even an African metropolis, but 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, fetid landfills and construction debris on the roadsides somewhat spoil the idyllic picture that can be observed when walking through the well-kept city center.

5. Raipur, India - 144 µg/m3

The population of Raipur is constantly growing and the city is finding it difficult to meet their sanitation needs. And cement factories and enterprises for the production and processing of marble and granite generously “supply” the air with chemical emissions.

4. Pasakha, Bhutan - 150 µg/m3

The city in the southern part of Bhutan is the only industrial city in the country as it is home to several heavy industries. Tashi Group, the largest private company in Bhutan, operates a chemical plant, a ferroalloy plant and a soft drink plant. In total, there are 26 factories in the city.

As a side effect of their activities, the city is suffocating from bad air and a lack of water, since it is required to maintain enterprises.

3. Al Jubail, Saudi Arabia - 152 µg/m3

Oil is a word inextricably linked with the city of Al Jubail. Although the multitude of factories producing lubricating oils, gasoline and diesel fuel are not very useful for the urban atmosphere, they are useful for the country's budget.

Despite the polluted air, Al Jubail is one of the most comfortable cities in Saudi Arabia. There are lagoons with beaches and picturesque gardens that are 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 - one of the dirtiest rivers on Earth. One has only to look at a photo of the waters of the Yamuna River - one of them - to be reminded of a giant landfill, and not a sacred garden. Swimming in it is comparable to swimming in raw sewage. The Ganges (except for places close to the source) and even worse, only a reckless or very pious person can take a bath in it.

Frenzied traffic and a lack of green spaces also contribute to air pollution in Allahabad.

1. Gwalior, India, 176 µg/m3

Here is WHO's answer to the question of which city is the dirtiest in the world. A previous report named Zabol in Iran as the most polluted city. However, according to the latest version of the WHO database, Zabol has reduced pollution levels by four times and now appears cleaner than the Australian capital Canberra.

Many residents of Gwalior suffer from water-borne infectious diseases because the liquid they drink comes from polluted areas. Huge landfills, overcrowding and noise pollution also contribute to the risk of serious health problems.

In Russia there is no data on the quality of outdoor air, since stations collecting such data are only in Moscow. However, in 2018, the Ministry of Natural Resources drafted and proposed a bill on environmental information. We can only hope that measures to improve the environment in Russia will allow citizens to breathe deeply without fear for their well-being.

Do you think you live in a polluted city? This opinion is especially common among residents of “super cities” such as New York, London, Moscow, etc.
To determine air pollution, a measure called PM10 is used, which reports the number of small particles found in the air. For example, New York City has a pollution level of 21 μg/m³ (micrograms per cubic meter). So where are all these cities? According to the World Health Organization for 2011, the list of ten cities with the most polluted air is as follows.

Kanpur, India

This industrial city is one of the most populous cities in India (2.92 million) in the state of Uttar Pradesh. Kanpur is the second most polluted city in India, has an indicator 209 µg/m³. The famous Ganges River runs through the city, but studies have shown that its water is unfit for human consumption, with its light yellow hue containing high levels of nitrates.

Yasuj, Iran


One of four Iranian cities in this top ten. It is an industrial city, with power plants and sugar processing plants. His indicator 215 µg/m³. But, despite the fact that the city has quite high air pollution, it is considered very beautiful, as it is located at the foot of the Zagros mountain range with a waterfall.

Gaborone, Botswana


In eighth place on the list of cities with the most polluted air is the city of Gabon, the capital of Botswana. According to local sources, pollution is at its peak and is gradually declining - the figure is 216 µg/m³. This place is popular among tourists due to its proximity to national parks.

Peshawar, Pakistan


Peshawar, a city in Pakistan, is the second most polluted in the country with 219 µg/m³. According to indications for 2007, the situation is gradually deteriorating, despite the fact that the government is taking measures to combat pollution.
But it's not just the air - the Kabul River canal is also heavily polluted thanks to food waste that is gradually filling it.

Kermanshah, Iran


This is another Iranian city with a serious pollution problem. It has an index from 229 µg/m³. Industries causing air pollution in this region are sugar processing, petrochemicals and electrical equipment.
The real problem is the dust storms that regularly sweep through Kermanshah.

Quetta, Pakistan


Even more polluted than Peshawar, this city has an indicator 251 µg/m³, making it the dirtiest city in a rather polluted country. Researchers call it a "major environmental problem for human health."
One of the causes of air pollution is public protests in the form of burning tires, which is considered a common form of protest in Pakistan.

Ludhiana, India


In terms of air pollution, the city of Ludhiana is considered to be Pakistan's rival. But air is not the only problem in Ludhiana - the river is also extremely polluted thanks to runoff from the city's industries.

Sanandaj, Iran


Another Iranian city that suffers from dust storms and heavy industrialization, air pollution here 254 µg/m³.

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia


Mongolia is the most sparsely populated independent country in the world, it is surprising that its capital is on our list, and even in second place. The pollution index is 279 µg/m³. Fortunately, the World Bank is helping to solve this problem with approximately $22 million.

Ahvaz, Iran


The city is an important center of the metallurgical industry, with colossal 372 µg/m³. It is also one of the ten hottest places on the planet. The air here is certainly more polluted than in any other city. This is again due to an unhealthy combination of dust storms and emissions from heavy industry.

Ecology

The day before, the northeastern Chinese city of Harbin, with a population of 11 million, was virtually shut down due to air pollution.

The smog that enveloped the city was so thick that many people not seen at a distance of 9 meters. The situation is so serious that schools and airports have closed and some bus routes have been cancelled.

Pollution is measured using an index that identifies small particles in the air. Particle levels below 25 are considered safe for health, and above 300 are considered hazardous.

Pollution indicators in Harbin exceeded the international safety standard by 40 times, reaching more than 1000 in some parts.

Atmospheric pollutants

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) officially announced that air pollution leads to lung cancer. Air pollution is a carcinogen, along with hazards such as asbestos, tobacco and ultraviolet radiation.

"The air that most people breathe is contaminated with a complex mixture of substances that cause cancer," said Kurt Straif, a spokesman for the International Agency for Research on Cancer. In addition, he believes that air pollution is now " most serious environmental carcinogen", followed by secondhand smoke and cigar smoke.

This spring, WHO also compiled a list of the most polluted cities in the world. The first place on the list was taken by the city of Ahvaz in the western part of Iran with a population of more than 3 million inhabitants, which is the capital of the Khuzestan province.

The most polluted cities 2013

Here are the 10 most polluted cities, according to the amount of suspended particles less than 10 micrometers in diameter per cubic meter of ambient air (PM10):

1. Ahvaz, Iran - 372

2. Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia - 279

3. Sanandaj, Iran - 254

4. Ludhiana, India - 251

5. Quetta, Pakistan - 251

6. Kermanshah, Iran - 229

7. Peshawar, Pakistan - 219

8. Gaborone, Botswana - 216

9. Yasuj, Iran - 215

10. Kanpur, India - 209

As you can see, the cities with the worst air quality are not large capitals, but provincial cities with a predominance of heavy industry. Thus, the city of Ahwaz in Iran has overtaken cities such as New Delhi and Beijing, known for their pollution with a PM10 level of 372, while the world average is 71. Life expectancy in this city is the lowest in Iran.

1. Linfen, China - air pollution

2. Bhopal, India - industrial chemicals

3. Central Kalimantan Province, Indonesia - mercury

4. Kasaragod, India - pesticides

5. Dzerzhinsk, Russia - chemicals, industrial waste

6. Sumgayit, Azerbaijan – organic chemicals

7. Tianying, China - lead

8. Sukinda, India – hexavalent chromium

9. Chernobyl, Ukraine - radiation

10. Arctic Canada - persistent organic pollutants

The most polluted cities in Russia

Norilsk, Moscow and St. Petersburg top the list of the most polluted cities in Russia, according to the Federal State Statistics Service.

Last year, the volume of pollutant emissions in Norilsk amounted to more than 1959 thousand tons. In Moscow this figure was 995 thousand tons, and in St. Petersburg – 448 thousand tons.

This took into account emissions from cars and stationary objects such as factories. Most of the cities included in the rating are centers of large metallurgical, oil and chemical industries.

Here 10 most polluted cities in Russia:

1. Norilsk

3. St. Petersburg

4. Cherepovets

7. Novokuznetsk

9. Angarsk

Canada: 557 million tons of CO 2 per year. The typical image of Canada is virgin forests, crystal clear lakes, mountains and rivers, nature and space. Despite this, Canada is one of the ten countries that emit the largest amount of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. To change this situation, in October 2016, the Canadian government announced its intention to introduce a carbon tax.

South Korea: 592 million tons of CO 2 per year. North Korean refugees say life in their southern neighbor is like a breath of fresh air. This metaphor may sound like a cruel irony: the air in South Korea is one of the most polluted in Asia, sometimes literally suffocating. Spring in Seoul is like being in the same room with a person who smokes 4 packs of cigarettes a day. South Korea has 50 coal plants (and more are planned), and Seoul is home to more than 10 million people, almost all of whom use cars. Unlike Canada, South Korea is not taking any measures that could improve the environmental situation.

Saudi Arabia: 601 million tons of CO 2 per year. According to WHO, the capital of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, is one of the most polluted cities in the world, and even in Beijing, your lungs are not getting the same “periodic table” that poisons your breath in Riyadh. In this case, the problem of industrial waste is aggravated by difficult natural conditions, in particular, frequent and sometimes terrifying sandstorms. Environmental issues in Saudi Arabia are considered secondary, and, like South Korea, the state does not intend to reduce oil and gas production and processing industries.

Iran: 648 million tons of CO 2 per year. The city of Ahwaz in Iran, once the winter residence of the Persian kings, is today a major metallurgical center and one of the cities with the most polluted air in the world. For example, in Moscow the average annual concentration of PM10 (fine particles that are an important component of air pollution) is 33 μg/m 3 , and in Ahvaz sometimes reaches 372 μg/m 3 . But problems with carbon dioxide emissions, alas, are typical for the entire territory of Iran. In November 2016, all the capital's schools were closed due to deadly fumes choking the city. “Deadly” is not a figure of speech here: in 23 days, more than 400 people died from air pollution. In addition to petrochemical production, which significantly worsens the environment, an important reason for this situation in Iran is sanctions. For the past 38 years since the end of the Islamic Revolution, Iranians have been driving old cars with low-quality fuel.

Germany: 798 million tons of CO 2 per year. The presence of Germany on this list is as surprising as the presence of Canada. But don't be fooled: in addition to green fields, a good economy and eco-orientation, Germany has many large cities. Thus, Stuttgart is called the “German Beijing” - there is no smog here, but the level of concentration of dangerous particles is quite high. In 2014, particle concentrations exceeded the permissible limit for 64 days, making the air dirtier than Seoul and Los Angeles combined. In 28 regions of the country, the level of air pollution is considered dangerous. In 2013, more than 10 thousand German residents died from high levels of nitrogen oxides in the air.

Japan: 1237 million tons of CO 2 per year. Japan ranks 5th in the world in terms of pollution, emitting almost twice as much carbon dioxide into the air as South Korea. But all this is a giant step forward compared to what was happening on the island state literally 50 years ago. Horrible syndromes caused by pollution, such as Minamata disease (heavy metal poisoning), killed many Japanese people. It wasn't until the 1970s that Japanese authorities began to take steps towards living in a cleaner environment. The environmental situation in Japan worsened slightly after the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident in 2011: the disaster led to the fact that almost all Japanese nuclear power plants were closed and replaced with coal ones.

Russia: 1617 million tons of CO 2 per year. Yes, Moscow sometimes exhibits particularly dangerous levels of air pollution, but Russia’s fourth position in the list of countries with the highest CO2 content in the air is still occupied by the Chelyabinsk region and the industrial cities of Siberia. Novokuznetsk, Angarsk, Omsk, Krasnoyarsk, Bratsk and Novosibirsk produce more emissions into the atmosphere than the multimillion-dollar city of Moscow. About 6% of all carbon monoxide emissions in Russia are due to the Chelyabinsk region. The city of Karabash in the Chelyabinsk region was recognized as an environmental disaster zone in 1996, and in the media it is often called the most polluted city in the world.

India: 2274 million tons of CO 2 per year. According to some estimates, about 1.2 million people die every year from air pollution in India. Yes, India has announced its desire for cleaner energy, but how realistic this is is a big question. The country's economy is growing, yet hundreds of millions of Indians still lack electricity and live in squalid conditions. One of India’s major economic achievements in recent years is to reduce the country’s dependence on coal imports: due to the growth of its own coal production, which India is confidently increasing every year. If we stop this coal mining, the air will become cleaner, but the country will be poorer.

USA: 5414 million tons of CO 2 per year. Despite numerous environmental protection programs and developments in the field of green energy, the United States is still among the leaders in environmental pollution. According to a 2016 report by the American Lung Association, more than half of the country's population breathes air with extremely dangerous levels of pollution. It can be rephrased this way: 166 million Americans daily put themselves at risk of developing asthma, heart disease, and cancer due to the air they breathe. The most polluted cities are concentrated in sunny California.

China: 10,357 million tons of CO 2 per year. Japan, Russia, India and the USA occupy adjacent positions in this ranking, but even if these countries are combined into one, then in this case the amount of carbon dioxide emissions into the air will not be comparable to what is happening in China: if air pollution were Olympic sport, China became the leader in the medal standings. "Red," the highest, level of air pollution is not uncommon in many Chinese cities, as are reports of millions of residents being confined to their homes by toxic smog. The air situation in China is not getting better - just in December 2016, the concentration of fine suspended particles PM10 (we talked about them above) exceeded 800 μg/m3. For comparison: the safe average annual concentration of PM10 from the WHO point of view is 20 μg/m 3 .



We all tend to complain about our own lives, about the conditions and place where we live. Have you ever thought that there are people whose lives are much worse and more difficult than yours? This is worth thinking about at least once in your life. Today we will share with you the ranking of the top 10 dirtiest cities in the world. These cities are not only unpleasant to be in, but also pose a high risk to life. But people still live there. Now you will have the opportunity to see from the outside the living conditions of some people. This will help you understand how to live well in cleanliness and order.

We will tell you about the most polluted cities in the world and reveal to you the reasons why they became so. Sometimes it’s even difficult to imagine that people can really exist in such conditions. These are not all places, but only some of the most unsightly places on our planet. Well, it's time to start. For the faint of heart, as they say, please leave.

10 Rudnaya Pristan, Russia.

The Russian city opens the ranking with the dirtiest cities in the world. It is estimated that approximately 90 thousand people are considered potentially infected. And all because of harmful substances such as mercury, lead and cadmium, which pollute everything around. These substances are contained in everything that a person needs: drinking water, fauna and soil. As a result, local residents cannot fully obtain the necessary water or grow crops; this is simply dangerous to their health. Even the blood of local children contains many dangerous substances that exceed the norm by an unacceptable number of times. But it doesn't get any better. Every year the scale of pollution increases.

9 Ranipet, India.

In this area there is a large tannery engaged in tanning and dyeing leather. Chromium salts, sodium chromate and other harmful substances are used to operate the plant, and subsequently tons of hazardous waste, instead of being eliminated and disposed of, end up in groundwater. Drinking water, groundwater and soil become unusable, which not only makes people sick, but also causes many deaths. However, local farmers continue to work on contaminated soil, irrigating their crops with contaminated water.

8 Norilsk, Russia.

Norilsk is a city in which there is a huge number of plants and factories where heavy metals are melted. As a result, harmful substances such as nickel, strontium, copper, etc. constantly hovering in the air. You won't envy the city's residents. Snow, more like mud, and the air tasted of sulfur. But this is not the worst thing. Mortality is increased, life expectancy is much lower than the national average, and almost everyone here has illnesses. Foreign tourists no longer come to Norilsk, because even a short stay in this city can affect your well-being, making it very difficult to recover later.

7 Mailuu-Suu, Kyrgyzstan.

In the immediate vicinity of this settlement there is a huge burial site of radioactive substances. The radiation level in these places exceeds the norm tens of times. Since landslides and floods caused by earthquakes, as well as rainstorms and mudflows are common in this area, hazardous substances will spread across the region with the speed of lightning. As a result, local and nearby residents suffer from cancer.

6 LinFin, China.

Although Linfen is not the dirtiest city in the world, it probably has the worst environmental situation in the country. There are harmful substances in the air such as lead, carbon, ash, etc. The content of these substances has long exceeded all permissible standards. We can say that the Chinese themselves are to blame for this. Everyone knows that the country is in dire need of coal, so hundreds of mines, sometimes illegal and completely unregulated, are being created throughout the territory. Alas, the city of Linfen has become a kind of mine. As a result, people suffer and suffer from severe and incurable diseases.

5 La Oroya, Peru.

This small mining town has long been exposed to toxic emissions released into the atmosphere due to the operation of a local plant. The blood of local children contains amounts of lead that have long exceeded all norms. As a result, children are forced to suffer from serious illnesses. But the vegetation in this city has long been forgotten. Everything that once grew here was destroyed by acid rain.

4 Kabwe, Zambia.

In the last century, rich deposits of lead were discovered in this city. The air is so polluted with heavy metals that the standards are exceeded 4 times. Residents are reaping the dire consequences of hazardous substances entering their bodies: vomiting, diarrhea, blood poisoning, chronic kidney disease and even muscle atrophy.

3 Haina, Dominican Republic.

A factory producing car batteries is located in this area. The waste from this plant is very dangerous because it contains a very high lead content. The amount of this substance is so critical that it exceeds the norm not several times, not even tens, but thousands of times! It's hard to even imagine. The most common diseases in this area are congenital deformities, mental disorders and eye diseases.

2 Dzerzhinsk, Russia.

This city was once a center for the production of chemical weapons. Afterwards, tons of chemical waste were illegally written off and dumped into groundwater. People in this city do not live to old age. Men, at best, live up to 42 years, and women a little longer - up to 47 years. According to estimates, the mortality rate in Dzerzhinsk has long exceeded the birth rate by 2.6 times. The forecast is not the most optimistic. It’s sad that our country ranks 3rd in the top ten dirtiest cities in the world.

1 Chernobyl, Ukraine.

Chernobyl takes 1st place in the ranking and receives the title of the dirtiest city in the world. There is probably no person on earth who has not heard about the disaster that occurred in Chernobyl. During tests at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, the reactor core melted and a terrible explosion occurred. As a result, 30 people died immediately on the spot. 135 thousand people were evacuated. Since then, no one has lived in the city. We also remember about the bombs that were once dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and so the explosion that occurred in Chernobyl entailed a hundred times greater release of radioactive substances. This tragedy will forever remain in the hearts and memories of people. And the consequences of this accident are visible to this day.


The dirtiest city in the world | Video

 

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