The 15 most polluted cities in the world

Many cities around the world have been found to have pollution levels well above recommended levels, increasing the likelihood of a range of ailments for their occupants.  The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended level is below 10 micrograms per cubic metre.  The WHO has released data revealing the cities with the worst air quality, the 15 worst of which (in micrograms per cubic metre) are:

1. Zabol, Iran   217
2. Gwalior, India   176
3. Allahabad, India   170
4. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia   156
5. Al Jubail, Saudi Arabia   152
6. Patna, India   149
7. Raipur, India   144
8. Bamenda, Cameroon   132
9. Xingtai, China   128
10. Baoding, China   126
11. Delhi, India   122
12. Ludhiana, India   122
13. Dammam, Saudi Arabia  121
14. Shijiazhuang, China   121
15. Khanna, India   114

As can be seen above, India has the most highly polluted cities worldwide.  Turkey claims eight of the top ten spots amongst European cities, and the most polluted cities in the US and Canada are dominated by California.  In South America, Coyhaique in Chile ranks worst where wood burning and a lack of rainfall are thought to be contributing factors.  Bamenda in Cameroon tops the pollution list for Africa, but every city in New Zealand and Australia at least matches the WHO’s recommended 10micrograms/m³.

There is a worrying number of cities with high levels of pollution.  However, the way we live today is not necessarily the way things need to continue to be done.  It certainly isn't the way they were done only a century ago or for the expanse of human history before that.  Key causes of pollution are increased urban power demand driving up power plant emissions and the soaring use of private motor vehicle transport. 

While great thinkers are responsible for much modern industrial invention, people continue to come up with even better ways of doing things. For instance, the rise of eco-homes and emerging architects who imagine office blocks, homes and hotels decked from top to toe in a verdant blaze of shrubbery and plant life.  One example is architect Stefano Boeri, who has plans to create entire “forest cities” in China, a country that has sadly become synonymous with environmental degradation and smog despite its long-standing historical tradition of being at one with and respecting nature.