Polluted cities. Quality of life

Where are the most polluted cities in the world? / 1

Data published by WHO have led many to consider Delhi as "the most polluted city in the world". Opinions based on these data are weak, because although WHO takes information from monitoring stations in more than 1,600 cities in all populated continents, only covers less than a third of the cities of more than 100,000 people. Not all highly polluted cities are great.

Evaluations and measurements can be wrong, but they are irrelevant in relation to the magnitude of the actual numbers. Fourteen or fifteen times above the WHO maximum level (10 mg / m3) makes no difference. Anyway, if you live there is already dead, sentenced to diseases you never recover unless escape in time. Sure, it's easier said.

If you watch the next scene, in broad daylight, not in the evening or in the early hours of the morning do you encourage to run to "strengthen" their lungs with exercise?

Joggers and walkers on a smoggy morning near the India Gate monument in New Delhi. Photograph: Roberto Schmidt / AFP / Getty Images

Pollution is not only a matter of undeveloped and poor countries. Also it exists in developed countries, which of course are not reaching the dantesque levels of the first (India, China, etc.)

PM2.5 is not the only form of air pollution - in fact there are many - but is responsible for more deaths worldwide. Another notable murderer is NO2, now known by the scandalous attempt by VW to manipulate the presentation of their emissions. In Europe, diesel cars that emit high NO2 are numerous by the huge subsidy program. In London, this pollutant kills more people than PM2.5. In the city center, where they circulate the iconic red buses with diesel engine, Oxford Street is the street most contaminated with this substance.

In the UK there are now plans to develop an ultra low emission zone in the capital. The new red buses are now electric-diesel hybrids. An environmental NGOs used this fact against the UK government in the European Court of Justice, which sanctioned for its failure to protect citizens in 40 of 43 urban areas of the country. Residents of hundreds, perhaps thousands, cities can not make these claims because the necessary measurements are not registered by their governments.

Oxford Street in London was named The most polluted road in the world for NO2. Photograph: Peter Macdiarmid / Getty Images

Here are some views of the most polluted cities. If you do not live in them, he is lucky, but contribute to air their city cleaner. NO CONTAMINATE AND BE AWARE OF YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO OUR PLANET.

In this view, no haze or is a winter day, it's just another day, perhaps noon (China, Beijing)

Buildings are shrouded in smog in Lianyungang, China Getty

Delhi, India (annual average PM2.5, ug / m3: 153)

Air pollution in Delhi is mainly caused by industry and traffic, which has produced high levels of several substances particulate matter - including carbon, nitrogen, sulfur and metal compounds. According to CNN, there are approximately 8.5 million registered vehicles in the city.

Smog envelops buildings on the outskirts of the Indian capital city New Delhi Getty

Patna, India (annual average PM2.5, ug / m3: 149)

The second largest city in eastern India, Patna has an estimated population 1.68 million in 2011. It is an important agricultural and commercial center, colas most active exports are grains, sugar cane, sesame and rice.

Vehicles drive across Mahatma Gandhi Setu Bridge, built over the River Ganges in the eastern Indian city of Patna Reuters

Gwalior, India (annual average PM2.5, ug / m3: 144)

Gwalior, one of the largest cities of Central India, is surrounded by three major industrial and commercial areas: Sitholi, Banmore and Malanpur.

Men sit on a wall overlooking the city from the 8th century Gwalior Fort in Gwalior Getty

Raipur, India (annual average PM2.5, ug / m3: 134)

Raipur has become an important regional commercial and industrial destination for the coal, energy, steel and aluminum and is the largest steel market in India.

City traffic Contributing to air pollution is a problem in India Getty

Karachi, Pakistan (annual average PM2.5, ug / m3: 117)

Air pollution, lack of adequate infrastructure for waste management and degradation of water bodies are the main environmental problems in Karachi. The city air is quickly contaminated by emissions from vehicles rickshaws and buses, industrial emissions, open burning of garbage, trash fires and house.

Children walk across an improvised bridge Placed above a drain full of rubbish in a slum area of ​​KarachiGetty

Peshawar, Pakistan (annual average PM2.5, ug / m3: 111)

Emissions from vehicles, industrial emissions and brick kilns, burning of solid waste and waste, poorly maintained vehicles are some of the sources of pollution in Peshawar.

Labourers work as smoke rises from a brick kiln in PeshawarGetty / AFP

Rawalpindi, Pakistan (annual average PM2.5, ug / m3: 107)

A rapidly growing city in the northern region of Pothohar Punjab, Pakistan, Rawalpindi is home to several textile factories. Their high traffic levels have increased air pollution in the region.

A man shovels sand and salt into an oven at a factory in Rawalpindi Reuters

Khorramabad, Iran (annual average PM2.5, ug / m3: 102)

In 2012, pollution contributed to the premature deaths of 4,500 people in Tehran and about 80,000 throughout Iran, according to the Ministry of Health.

Khoramabad, in Lorestan Province of Iran, is the basis of the regional agricultural industryWiki Commons / Ninara

Ahmedabad, India (annual average PM2.5, ug / m3: 100)

Ahmedabad has become an important economic and industrial center in India and is the second largest producer of cotton in the country. The heavy duty construction, infrastructure and housing has contributed to high levels of air pollution.

Labourers travel in a tractor trolley past hospital buildings under construction in Ahmedabad, India Reuters

Lucknow, India (annual average PM2.5, ug / m3: 96)

The capital of Uttar Pradesh is among the most polluted cities. The lack of transport infrastructure and increasing number of vehicles aggravates the problem, according to India's Centre for Science and Environment.

Scavengers search for usable refuse in a garbage dump in LucknowReuters

References

What is 2-5 PM?

https://www3.epa.gov/pmdesignations/faq.htm#0

Karl Mathiesen (2015) Where is the World's Most Polluted city?

December 2, 2015

http://www.theguardian.com/cities/2015/dec/02/where-world-most-polluted-city-air-pollution

World Environment Day 2015: 10 Most polluted cities in the world

• June 4 2015 12:00 BST

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/world-environment-day-10-most-polluted-cities-world-1504260