The Top Most Polluted Cities Around the World
Pollution is a global issue of increasing importance as the world’s population continues to grow quickly and our environment continues to be stressed in myriad ways. Unfortunately, some of the most polluted cities in the world are located in developing countries, where limited resources and inadequate infrastructure result in some of the dirtiest air on earth. Here is a look at the top 10 most polluted cities in the world.
Overview of Air Pollution Worldwide
Air pollution affects people across the globe, but it’s not evenly distributed. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, more than 90 percent of the world’s population is exposed to polluted air. This is particularly true of urban areas, where exhaust from motor vehicles and other fossil fuel burning activities combine to create smog. The World Health Organization estimates that air pollution causes 4.2 million premature deaths per year, with the majority of the victims living in low- and middle-income countries.
What’s Causing the Worst Pollution Levels?
The main culprit behind poor air quality in many of the most polluted cities around the world is the burning of fossil fuels, such as oil and coal. In places like China and India, where air pollution levels are at their highest, coal burning for industrial purposes and home heating is ubiquitous. Other major contributors to air pollution around the world include residential wood burning, agricultural burning, and industrial emissions from power plants and factories.
The 10 Most Polluted Cities
- Kanpur, India
Kanpur, India, takes the number one spot on the list of the world’s most polluted cities. According to the World Air Quality Index, this large city in the Northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh is home to air pollution levels more than five times higher than that of the standard safety limit, thus making it one of the worst places in the world to live in terms of air quality.
- Delhi, India
Delhi, India, comes in second on the list of the world’s most polluted cities. Though it has recently taken steps to reduce its emissions, Delhi still sees levels of air pollution that exceed the safe limits by several times, and the city routinely suffers from lingering smog and poor air quality.
- Dhaka, Bangladesh
Dhaka, Bangladesh is the third most polluted city in the world. It’s the largest city in Bangladesh, and the combination of traffic congestion, industry, and burning of crop residue in the nearby countryside makes it a highly polluted city.
- Kabul, Afghanistan
Kabul, Afghanistan is the fourth most polluted city in the world. Though the Afghan capital has seen some improvements in recent years, the city still suffers from poor air quality, mainly due to the burning of wood and other biomass fuels for cooking and heating.
- Lucknow, India
Lucknow in Northern India is the fifth most polluted city in the world. The city is home to both industry and a large, car-driving population, and air pollution levels are currently over ten times the safety limit.
- Cairo, Egypt
Cairo, Egypt is the sixth most polluted city in the world. This densely populated city of nearly 9 million people is notorious for its severe air pollution, which is caused mainly by the burning of fossil fuels in traffic, industry, and power generation.
- Ahmedabad, India
Ahmedabad, India is the seventh most polluted city in the world. This city of more than six million people is located in Gujarat, and air pollution levels are dangerously high due to the burning of coal, motor vehicle emissions, and other sources.
- Jodhpur, India
Jodhpur in India’s Rajasthan state is the eighth most polluted city in the world. This traditionally well-to-do city sees high air pollution levels due to the burning of solid fuels for cooking and heating, motor vehicle emissions, and industrial sources.
- Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Tashkent comes in ninth on the list of the world’s most polluted cities. This large city in Uzbekistan is home to nearly 2 million people, and air pollution levels are significantly higher than the accepted safety limits.
- Lagos, Nigeria
Lagos, which is the most populous city in Nigeria, rounds out the list of the world’s most polluted cities. This city of more than 20 million people suffers from significant air pollution due to the burning of biomass fuels, motor vehicle emissions, and industrial emissions.
Strategies to Reduce Air Pollution in the Most Polluted Cities
Reducing air pollution in cities is a huge challenge that requires varying strategies, depending on the sources of the pollution. For example, in cities such as Beijing and Delhi, where the primary sources of air pollution are motor vehicles, environmental agencies are working to reduce emissions through a combination of policies such as road tolls, fuel economy standards, and public transportation. Other countries are phasing out the burning of coal in favor of cleaner renewable energy sources like solar and wind.
The Benefits of Reducing Pollution Levels
Reducing levels of air pollution has numerous benefits, both in the immediate and long-term. By improving air quality, cities can reduce the number of asthma attacks and other respiratory diseases that are so common in many of the world’s most polluted cities. In the long-term, reducing emissions can help slow the rate of global warming and reduce other environmental impacts, as well as improving overall public health and quality of life.
Air pollution is an urgent global issue that requires a concerted effort to reduce levels of emissions and improve air quality in cities across the world. Fortunately, numerous strategies have been developed to reduce pollution levels in the most polluted cities, including switching to renewable energy sources, tightening emission standards, and providing public transportation options that reduce reliance on dirty fuels. The benefits of reducing pollution levels range from immediate public health benefits to long-term environmental and economic improvements, making it a wise investment for any city.
