Environmental Science Degrees

Air pollution has been a worldwide problem for many years now. It is important to breathe in clean air because it can make a huge impact on our overall health. However, it has been a very long time since this world had clean air. With factories polluting the air, unnecessary burning of plastics, and smoking among others, the result has been obvious: bad air quality.

Few cities have the luxury of having clean air; for many, it is an everyday problem. A list below can tell you the top 10 cities that have the worst air quality in the world. Even if your city isn’t included in the list, it is still important to take better care of the environment.

1. Linfen, China. China is becoming famous not only for its quick economic upturn, but also for its ghastly air pollution. With the cities of Beijing and Shanghai trailing behind, Linfen is a much worse city. It is home of the coal industry of China, with both legal and illegal coal mines all around. Sulfur dioxide and other chemicals in the air are in staggering numbers which should be controlled soon.
2. Norilsk, Russia. Because of the city’s production of nickel and other metals, Norilsk has become the worst air polluter in Russia. Copper, nickel, and sulfur oxides are some of the things spewed into the air in disturbing numbers. Because of this, there’s a high mortality rate in children and bigger chances of having respiratory diseases.
3. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. After taking over Los Angeles’s title to the worst air polluter in US, Pittsburgh has been trying to recover its former glory. Although named as “the most livable city in the US,” Pittsburgh is struggling over the fact that pollutions from Ohio are coming their way. It’s not their fault that the garbage of another’s blows into their city. But the fact remains; it has the highest short-term particle pollution in US.
4. Mexico City, Mexico. Because of its geographical location, Mexico is having a hard time with its air pollution. With three mountains around them and an area high above sea level, Mexico City’s smog gets trapped in clouds and humid air. The Mexico tries to do something about it alright, but with four million people living in the city, it’s hard to get things done. They experience about 300 days of dangerously high ozone levels because of the cars polluting it.
5. Windsor, Canada. Yet again, another city is crying foul over their air quality. Although Windsor accepts that they are a major producer of automobiles, 90% of air pollution comes from the US. The smog coming from Ontario and the Midwest are too much that Windsor has one of the most polluted airs in the world.
6. Milan, Italy. You may not believe it but Milan has big air problems too. The city has the most smog in Europe because of all the cars running around. Small chemical particles are the cause of health worries, which can cause respiratory problems and cancer. Fortunately, Milan is fast becoming successful in dealing with their air problem.
7. La Oroya, Peru. Lead is the major problem in this small city. Although this is a mountain village with a small population, the smelting industries has made this unlivable. Sadly, there are still families living in the area and 99% of the children have large amounts of lead in their bodies. It will take centuries and millions of dollars to lower the lead contamination.
8. Pernik, Bulgaria. This city has the worst air pollution in the entire European Union. Because of the metallurgy plants in the city, the dust is dangerously high. Not only are the factories major contributors of pollution because there are very old and used cars in the city that aren’t being converted in less harmful metals.
9. Cairo, Egypt. Hydrocarbons, lead, and other particles cause this city to become one of the worst in the world. The city’s pollution is similar to Mexico City and LA, made much worse because of the hot weather and lack of rain. The air quality is about 100 times worse than the safe standards.
10. New Delhi, India. Congestion in traffic is the main cause of Delhi’s air pollution. Thousands use cars everyday to do anywhere, and this takes the toll in the city. The air can be seen as dark and cloudy because of the smog. Factories located in the area doesn’t help too.