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Air pollution: 10 countries with the world's dirtiest air
By Natalie Whiting
Updated 1 hour 45 minutes ago
Almost 90 per cent of people living in the world's cities are being exposed to dangerous levels of air pollution, according to a damning report into outdoor air quality from the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The database examined air pollution levels in 1600 cities across 91 countries. It found only 12 per cent of people were living in cities that complied with WHO air quality guideline levels.
The report was more extensive than a similar database released by the WHO in 2011 and has found air quality has deteriorated in that time.
Outdoor air pollution killed 3.7 million people in 2012 and WHO says it is now the world's largest single environmental health risk.
Delhi topped the list of cities with the highest level of air pollution.
Despite extensive coverage of the pollution problems in Beijing, the city came in at number 77 on the list. Among the countries, China was ranked 14th.
The WHO says the Chinese data provided to them was from 2010, but Beijing's city government began publishing hourly PM2.5 data in January 2012.
The WHO database examined the concentration of fine particulate pollution of 2.5 micrometers or less in diameter (PM2.5) and of particulate pollution of 10 micrometers or less in diameter (PM10).
The concentration of air pollution is measured in micrograms per cubic meter of air (ug/m3).PM2.5 is considered the best indicator of assessing health impacts from air pollution. WHO says there is no safe level of PM2.5 pollution.
Here are the 10 countries with the highest levels of air pollution:
Air pollution: 10 countries with the world s dirtiest air - Yahoo!7
1. Pakistan
AVERAGE PM2.5 POLLUTION: 101 ug/m3*
AVERAGE PM10 POLLUTION: 282 ug/m3*
YEAR OF DATA: 2010*
Pakistan has a population of almost 180 million people and a life expectancy of 66. It is part of the WHO's Eastern Mediterranean region and ranked as low to middle income.
Pakistan's major industries include mining, manufacturing and fuel extraction.
The Pakistani city with the highest pollution levels was Karachi, which had a PM2.5 of 117 ug/m3. It came in at number five in the list of cities with the worst levels of air pollution. Peswar (111 ug/m3) and Rawalpindi (107 ug/m3) came in at 6th and 7th respectively.
2. Qatar
AVERAGE PM2.5 POLLUTION: 92 ug/m3*
AVERAGE PM10 POLLUTION: 165 ug/m3*
YEAR OF DATA: 2012*
More than 2 million people live in Qatar and the life expectancy is 78. It is part of the WHO's Eastern Mediterranean region and ranked as high income. The country's major industry is oil production.
The air in the country's capital, Doha, was ranked 12th most polluted, with a PM2.5 of 93 ug/m3. Al Wakrah came in at number 25 with 85 ug/m3.
3. Afghanistan
AVERAGE PM2.5 POLLUTION: 84 ug/m3*
AVERAGE PM10 POLLUTION: 268 ug/m3*
YEAR OF DATA: 2009*
Afghanistan has a population of almost 30 million and a life expectancy of 61. It is part of the WHO's Eastern Mediterranean region and ranked as low to middle income. Some of its major industries include agriculture and textiles.
Its capital Kabul was ranked 22nd, with a PM2.5 pollution rate of 86 ug/m3.
4. Bangladesh
AVERAGE PM2.5 POLLUTION: 79 ug/m3*
AVERAGE PM10 POLLUTION: 163 ug/m3*
YEAR OF DATA: 2013*
Bangladesh has a population of almost 155 million people and a life expectancy of 69. It is part of the WHO's South East Asia region. Its biggest industries include manufacturing and agriculture.
The Bangladeshi city with the highest air pollution rate was Narayonganj with a PM2.5 pollution rate of 89 ug/m3. It came in at number 17. Gazipur had a rate of 87 ug/m3 and was ranked 21st. Dhaka was 23rd with 86 ug/m3.
5. Iran
AVERAGE PM2.5 POLLUTION: 76 ug/m3*
AVERAGE PM10 POLLUTION: 127 ug/m3*
YEAR OF DATA: 2010*
Iran has a population of more than 76 million people and a life expectancy of 74. It is part of the WHO's Eastern Mediterranean region and ranked as low to middle income. Some of the country's major industries include oil and gas production, automotive and construction.
Iran's city with highest level of air pollution was Khoramabad with a PM2.5 average of 102 ug/m3. It was ranked 8th in a list of city’s with high air pollution.
6. Egypt
AVERAGE PM2.5 POLLUTION: 74 ug/m3*
AVERAGE PM10 POLLUTION: 136 ug/m3*
YEAR OF DATA: 2011*
Egypt has a population of more than 80 million people and a life expectancy of 71. It is part of the WHO's Eastern Mediterranean region and ranked as low to middle income. Some of its major industries include agriculture, textiles and oil production.
The Delta cities came in at number 30 on the list of highest air pollution, with a PM2.5 rate of 76 ug/m3. Cairo was ranked 34th with 73 ug/m3.
7. Mongolia
AVERAGE PM2.5 POLLUTION: 64 ug/m3*
AVERAGE PM10 POLLUTION: 140 ug/m3*
YEAR OF DATA: 2009/10*
With a population of more than 2.7 million people, life expectancy in Mongolia is 67. It is part of the WHO's Western Pacific region and ranked as low to middle income. Some of its major industries include construction, mining and oil production.
Darkham came in at number 26 of cities with the highest air pollution, with a PM2.5 rate of 80 ug/m3.
8. United Arab Emirates
AVERAGE PM2.5 POLLUTION: 61 ug/m3*
AVERAGE PM10 POLLUTION: 161 ug/m3*
YEAR OF DATA: 2011*
The population of the United Arab Emirates is more than 9 million and the life expectancy is 77. It is part of the WHO's Eastern Mediterranean region and ranked as high income. Some of its major industries include oil production, textiles and agriculture.
Al Gharbia - Biya Zayed was rated 52nd on the list of cities with high air pollution, with a PM2.5 rate of 64 ug/m3.
9. India
AVERAGE PM2.5 POLLUTION: 59 ug/m3*
AVERAGE PM10 POLLUTION: 134 ug/m3*
YEAR OF DATA: 2009/11*
India has a population of 1.2 billion. The life expectancy is 66. It is part of the WHO's South East Asia region. Its major industries include agriculture, services, retail and mining.
Six of the top 10 cities with high air pollution were from India. Delhi had the highest rate of air pollution in the world, with a PM2.5 rate of 153 ug/m3.
Patna came in 2nd (149 ug/m3) Gwalior is 3rd (144 ug/m3)and Raipur 4th (134 ug/m3).
Coming in at number 9 is Ahmedabad (100 ug/m3) and 10th is Lucknow (96 ug/m3).
10. Bahrain
AVERAGE PM2.5 POLLUTION: 57 ug/m3*
AVERAGE PM10 POLLUTION: 254 ug/m3*
YEAR OF DATA: 2012*
The population of Bahrain is 1.3 million and the life expectancy is 77. It is part of the WHO's Eastern Mediterranean region and ranked as high income. Some of its major industries include services, banking, retail and tourism.
With a PM2.5 rate of 66 ug/m3, Hamad Town came in at 51st on the list of cities with the highest air pollution.
By Natalie Whiting
Updated 1 hour 45 minutes ago
Almost 90 per cent of people living in the world's cities are being exposed to dangerous levels of air pollution, according to a damning report into outdoor air quality from the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The database examined air pollution levels in 1600 cities across 91 countries. It found only 12 per cent of people were living in cities that complied with WHO air quality guideline levels.
The report was more extensive than a similar database released by the WHO in 2011 and has found air quality has deteriorated in that time.
Outdoor air pollution killed 3.7 million people in 2012 and WHO says it is now the world's largest single environmental health risk.
Delhi topped the list of cities with the highest level of air pollution.
Despite extensive coverage of the pollution problems in Beijing, the city came in at number 77 on the list. Among the countries, China was ranked 14th.
The WHO says the Chinese data provided to them was from 2010, but Beijing's city government began publishing hourly PM2.5 data in January 2012.
The WHO database examined the concentration of fine particulate pollution of 2.5 micrometers or less in diameter (PM2.5) and of particulate pollution of 10 micrometers or less in diameter (PM10).
The concentration of air pollution is measured in micrograms per cubic meter of air (ug/m3).PM2.5 is considered the best indicator of assessing health impacts from air pollution. WHO says there is no safe level of PM2.5 pollution.
Here are the 10 countries with the highest levels of air pollution:
Air pollution: 10 countries with the world s dirtiest air - Yahoo!7
1. Pakistan
AVERAGE PM2.5 POLLUTION: 101 ug/m3*
AVERAGE PM10 POLLUTION: 282 ug/m3*
YEAR OF DATA: 2010*
Pakistan has a population of almost 180 million people and a life expectancy of 66. It is part of the WHO's Eastern Mediterranean region and ranked as low to middle income.
Pakistan's major industries include mining, manufacturing and fuel extraction.
The Pakistani city with the highest pollution levels was Karachi, which had a PM2.5 of 117 ug/m3. It came in at number five in the list of cities with the worst levels of air pollution. Peswar (111 ug/m3) and Rawalpindi (107 ug/m3) came in at 6th and 7th respectively.
2. Qatar
AVERAGE PM2.5 POLLUTION: 92 ug/m3*
AVERAGE PM10 POLLUTION: 165 ug/m3*
YEAR OF DATA: 2012*
More than 2 million people live in Qatar and the life expectancy is 78. It is part of the WHO's Eastern Mediterranean region and ranked as high income. The country's major industry is oil production.
The air in the country's capital, Doha, was ranked 12th most polluted, with a PM2.5 of 93 ug/m3. Al Wakrah came in at number 25 with 85 ug/m3.
3. Afghanistan
AVERAGE PM2.5 POLLUTION: 84 ug/m3*
AVERAGE PM10 POLLUTION: 268 ug/m3*
YEAR OF DATA: 2009*
Afghanistan has a population of almost 30 million and a life expectancy of 61. It is part of the WHO's Eastern Mediterranean region and ranked as low to middle income. Some of its major industries include agriculture and textiles.
Its capital Kabul was ranked 22nd, with a PM2.5 pollution rate of 86 ug/m3.
4. Bangladesh
AVERAGE PM2.5 POLLUTION: 79 ug/m3*
AVERAGE PM10 POLLUTION: 163 ug/m3*
YEAR OF DATA: 2013*
Bangladesh has a population of almost 155 million people and a life expectancy of 69. It is part of the WHO's South East Asia region. Its biggest industries include manufacturing and agriculture.
The Bangladeshi city with the highest air pollution rate was Narayonganj with a PM2.5 pollution rate of 89 ug/m3. It came in at number 17. Gazipur had a rate of 87 ug/m3 and was ranked 21st. Dhaka was 23rd with 86 ug/m3.
5. Iran
AVERAGE PM2.5 POLLUTION: 76 ug/m3*
AVERAGE PM10 POLLUTION: 127 ug/m3*
YEAR OF DATA: 2010*
Iran has a population of more than 76 million people and a life expectancy of 74. It is part of the WHO's Eastern Mediterranean region and ranked as low to middle income. Some of the country's major industries include oil and gas production, automotive and construction.
Iran's city with highest level of air pollution was Khoramabad with a PM2.5 average of 102 ug/m3. It was ranked 8th in a list of city’s with high air pollution.
6. Egypt
AVERAGE PM2.5 POLLUTION: 74 ug/m3*
AVERAGE PM10 POLLUTION: 136 ug/m3*
YEAR OF DATA: 2011*
Egypt has a population of more than 80 million people and a life expectancy of 71. It is part of the WHO's Eastern Mediterranean region and ranked as low to middle income. Some of its major industries include agriculture, textiles and oil production.
The Delta cities came in at number 30 on the list of highest air pollution, with a PM2.5 rate of 76 ug/m3. Cairo was ranked 34th with 73 ug/m3.
7. Mongolia
AVERAGE PM2.5 POLLUTION: 64 ug/m3*
AVERAGE PM10 POLLUTION: 140 ug/m3*
YEAR OF DATA: 2009/10*
With a population of more than 2.7 million people, life expectancy in Mongolia is 67. It is part of the WHO's Western Pacific region and ranked as low to middle income. Some of its major industries include construction, mining and oil production.
Darkham came in at number 26 of cities with the highest air pollution, with a PM2.5 rate of 80 ug/m3.
8. United Arab Emirates
AVERAGE PM2.5 POLLUTION: 61 ug/m3*
AVERAGE PM10 POLLUTION: 161 ug/m3*
YEAR OF DATA: 2011*
The population of the United Arab Emirates is more than 9 million and the life expectancy is 77. It is part of the WHO's Eastern Mediterranean region and ranked as high income. Some of its major industries include oil production, textiles and agriculture.
Al Gharbia - Biya Zayed was rated 52nd on the list of cities with high air pollution, with a PM2.5 rate of 64 ug/m3.
9. India
AVERAGE PM2.5 POLLUTION: 59 ug/m3*
AVERAGE PM10 POLLUTION: 134 ug/m3*
YEAR OF DATA: 2009/11*
India has a population of 1.2 billion. The life expectancy is 66. It is part of the WHO's South East Asia region. Its major industries include agriculture, services, retail and mining.
Six of the top 10 cities with high air pollution were from India. Delhi had the highest rate of air pollution in the world, with a PM2.5 rate of 153 ug/m3.
Patna came in 2nd (149 ug/m3) Gwalior is 3rd (144 ug/m3)and Raipur 4th (134 ug/m3).
Coming in at number 9 is Ahmedabad (100 ug/m3) and 10th is Lucknow (96 ug/m3).
10. Bahrain
AVERAGE PM2.5 POLLUTION: 57 ug/m3*
AVERAGE PM10 POLLUTION: 254 ug/m3*
YEAR OF DATA: 2012*
The population of Bahrain is 1.3 million and the life expectancy is 77. It is part of the WHO's Eastern Mediterranean region and ranked as high income. Some of its major industries include services, banking, retail and tourism.
With a PM2.5 rate of 66 ug/m3, Hamad Town came in at 51st on the list of cities with the highest air pollution.
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