10 of the World’s Most Polluted Countries

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), some of the latest global air quality statistics revealed that more than 80% of people living in urban areas that monitor air quality are exposed to levels that exceed WHO recommendations. These levels are calculated by counting particulate matter (PM), or particulates, which are microscopic solids or liquids that cannot be seen by the naked eye. These tiny inhalable particles are then divided into categories, two major ones being PM 10 and PM 2.5 – the first being coarse particulates that have a diameter between 2.5 and 10 micrometres (μm), and the second being fine particulates with a diameter of 2.5 μm or less – these are common in smoke, soot and dust.

The size of these particles is a major factor when it comes to determining how dangerous they are when inhaled. The larger matter can be filtered upon entering the nose and mouth by mucus and cilia, but particles smaller than 10 micrometres can pose a much more serious threat. How? Well, they can evade these biological barriers, and settle in the deepest parts of the lungs, which can lead to serious health issues.

As well as being linked to obvious conditions such as asthma, lung cancer and cardiovascular disease, these particulates can also have a detrimental effect on fertility, pregnancy and lifespan. Unsurprisingly, PM levels are dangerously high in areas that are highly polluted, and many countries across the globe still have a very long way to go when it comes to battling emissions. Both the World Health Organization and the Environmental Protection Agency have both issues recommended PM limits, but some of the most polluted cities are 20 times that. Here are ten of the most polluted places on earth according to WHO – you might be surprised by some of them.

10

NIGERIA

Kaduna

Annual Mean: 90 μg/m3 of PM 2.5

Warning Type: Severe

Located in north-western Nigeria, Kaduna is both a trade centre and transportation hub that has witnessed rapid urbanisation over the last ten tears – something that can lead to an array of problems, including inadequate infrastructure, congestion, poverty and of course, pollution.

Year: 2013

9

QATAR

Doha

Annual Mean: 93 μg/m3 of PM 2.5

Warning Type: Severe

Qatar is known to many as a hub for building and construction, which is likely to be a key reason behind the country’s serious air pollution problem.

Year: 2012

8

UGANDA

Kampala

Annual Mean: 104 μg/m3 of PM 2.5

Warning Type: Severe

While Uganda is renowned for its abundant wildlife and stunning landscapes, it is also home to something much uglier. According to researchers, vehicle emissions are responsible for the majority of the pollution in Uganda.

Year: 2013

7

BANGLADESH

Narayanganj

Annual Mean: 106 μg/m3 of PM 2.5

Warning Type: Severe

A 2014 report conducted by the World Health Organization found that Bangladesh was extremely polluted, with the South Asian country home to high levels of gaseous pollutants, as well as dust particles. The city of Narayanganj is also home to a busy brick manufacturing industry, which speaks for itself.

Year: 2014

6

PAKISTAN

Peshawar

Annual Mean: 111 μg/m3 of PM 2.5

Warning Type: Severe

Towards the end of last year, Peshawar in Pakistan was displaying critical air pollution levels – and it wasn’t down to one factor. Vehicle emissions, construction, dust, poor-quality roadworks and fumes from burning waste are all to blame for the country’s polluted air.

Year: 2010

5

CHINA

Xingtai

Annual Mean: 128 μg/m3 of PM 2.5

Warning Type: Severe

Xingtai is renowned for its coal – more specifically, its coal-burning factories. The city is heavily polluted due to its huge industrial presence.

Year: 2014

4

CAMEROON

Bamenda

Annual Mean: 132 μg/m3 of PM 2.5

Warning Type: Severe

A combination of rapid urbanization and soil erosion is most likely to blame for the poor air quality in Cameroon, Africa.

Year: 2012

3

SAUDI ARABIA

Riyadh

Annual Mean: 156 μg/m3 of PM 2.5

Warning Type: Severe

Riyadh isn’t just Saudi Arabia’s largest city – it’s also its most polluted. Previous WHO reports have declared sandstorms, traffic and industrial waste as the culprits behind the majority of the pollutants in Saudi’s air.

Year: 2014

2

INDIA

City: Gwalior

Annual Mean: 176 μg/m3 of PM 2.5

Warning Type: Severe

Just under 200 miles away from a previous winner of the “Most Polluted City” competition, Delhi, lies a major Indian city known as Gwalior. While pollution from vehicles is a factor to take into consideration, the emissions don’t stop there. An increased use of fossil fuels is another reason for the dangerously unhealthy air, and buildings that aren’t energy efficient could also be to blame.

Year: 2012

1

IRAN

City: Zabol

Annual Mean: 217 μg/m3 of PM 2.5

Warning Type: Severe

Earlier this year, a study published in the Preventive Medicine journal declared that 30 minutes of cycling in the heavily polluted city of Zabol, Iran, would do the individual more harm than good. Named by the World Health Organization as the most polluted city on earth in 2016, Zabol is renowned in the region for its 120-day wind – a relentless summer dust storm that sweeps the area from north to south.

Year: 2012

The data featured in this article was taken from the World Health Organization’s 2016 ‘Ambient (outdoor) air pollution database, by country and city’ spreadsheet.

Image by vecstock on Freepik.

Sources:

https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/shorthand/cleaner_vehicles/?source=vanityurl

http://uk.businessinsider.com/the-cities-with-the-worlds-worst-air-pollution-who-2016-5/#5-al-jubail-saudi-arabia-152-gm3-of-pm-25-11

http://www.who.int/phe/health_topics/outdoorair/databases/cities/en/

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5 Causes of Air Pollution You Probably Didn’t Know About

Many people assume that air pollution is only associated with car fumes and industrial power plants, but the reality is quite different. In fact, polluted air can be caused by an array of factors – and a lot of them are found in and around our homes. Everyday activities such as cooking and cleaning can cause the number of pollutants in our kitchens, bedrooms and living rooms to rise dramatically – and unfortunately, many people don’t realise the impact they are having on their indoor environment.

Here, we outline five causes of air pollution that might surprise you.

Cooking

The next time you’re preparing a meal or heating something up on the stove, make sure you open a window and ventilate your kitchen – especially if you’re frying something. A study conducted at Texas State and Utah State universities found that water, when combined with hot oil, creates minuscule droplets of fat that are thrown into the air and are small enough to be inhaled. However, anything that involves combustion could potentially to your health and the quality of air in your home.

Cleaning

Need an excuse to avoid your chores for another week? You’re in luck. There’s a vast number of cleaning products found in homes all over the world that could have a negative impact on your health. Sure, there’s a list of scary-sounding chemicals and symbols on the packaging of many of them, but there’s more to it than that. A lot of manufacturers don’t publish the full list of chemicals used inside their product, because they simply don’t have to. According to the Huffington Post, non-profit Environmental Working Group (EWG) studied more than 2,000 different household cleaning products and the results were worrying. A lot of the tested items were found to contain chemicals linked to asthma, allergies and even cancer.

Heating

If you own a wood-burning stove, you’ll know how warm and cosy they can make your indoor environment come winter. However, they’re not as family friendly as you’d think. According to King’s College London, domestic wood burning is responsible for a huge amount of London’s fine particle pollution – between a quarter and a third, to be more precise. Additional studies had even more concerning results. The Guardian reported on a stove switching programme that took place between 2005 and 2007, where old, polluting wood-burning stoves were replaced with newer alternatives. The study found that after the replacement, there were fewer cases of children suffering from respiratory issues.

Vaping

While many claim that e-cigarettes and vapes are a safer alternative to smoking, scientists beg to differ. A story published by The Telegraph touched on research carried out by professionals at the University of California, in which human cells were subjected to smoke particles of e-cigarettes. The results? Not great. The cells used in the experiment were damaged and died soon after contact with the chemicals.

Braking

It might seem obvious that driving at higher speeds isn’t exactly healthy for the environment, but did you know that braking causes pollution too? While low-emission zones are becoming more prominent, both speeding up and slowing down are detrimental to the environment. Ralph Bagge, the leader of South Bucks District Council, commented on the topic when speaking with The Independent. “Smooth driving reduces emissions and stop-start acceleration and deceleration braking is harmful,” he explained. “It is putting out more through the tailpipe, but secondly braking is also grinding bits of very fine particulate matter which goes into the atmosphere,” he concluded.

Image courtesy of Kevin McCutcheon, Unsplash

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Indoor Pollution: The Invisible Threat

Air quality is a broad subject. It encompasses a number of environmental topics, and more often than not, it talks about the serious impact we as humans are having upon the world. When brought up in conversation, it’s likely that images of billowing fumes, congested traffic and city smog fill your mind.

While outdoor particles, allergens and pollutants undeniably pose a serious threat to all forms of life, air pollution doesn’t stop at your front door. In fact, it might be worse on the other side of the threshold.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), approximately three billion people rely on solid fuels to cook food and heat their homes. They do so by burning materials such as wood and coal inside their houses, which ultimately results in extremely poor air quality, more harmful particles and a rise in dangerous pollutants. The website also states that more than four million people die from household air pollution each and every year.

Recently, experts at the Glasgow School of Art’s Mackintosh Environmental Research Unit (MEARU) have voiced their concerns over the rise of smart homes – and increasingly airtight ones in particular. The new builds may appear to protect residents, but in actual fact, they’re trapping harmful particles, pollutants and allergens inside - which means they can’t escape into the atmosphere.

The head of MEARU, Tim Sharpe, explained to the BBC how these homes are potentially toying with residents’ health. “Poor indoor air quality, particularly in bedrooms, is hard for people to detect,” he stated. “There are clear links between poor ventilation and ill-health so people need to be aware of the build up of CO2 and other pollutants in their homes and their potential impact on health,” he continued.

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Image courtesy of Michael Shannon, Unsplash