The World Health Organization released information on the most air-polluted cities in the world back in 2016. Most of these cities are located in the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent. In some cases, the pollution has crossed the recommended maximum ‘safe limit’ as much as 10 times. This list is created according to the data supplied by the WHO.
Following are the top 5 most air-polluted cities in the world.
Zabol, Iran
Zabol is the capital city of Zabol County. It is located within the Sistan and Baluchestan Province of Iran. The city is situated close to the Afghanistan border. It is well known for its “120-day-wind” which is a highly persistent dust storm that ravages the city during the summer.
In 2017, a study suggested that the harm from 30 minutes of cycling outdoors in Zabol can overcome the benefits of the exercise. The city has a converted PM 10 according to WHO.
Gwalior, India
Gwalior city is located in the Northern Madhya Pradesh state of central India. It is the world’s second most air-polluted city in the world. The city is a cultural, industrial and political center and took its name from the historic rock fortress which forms the center of the city.
Gwalior is surrounded by three major industrial areas Sitholi, Banmore, and Malanpur. It also has a converted PM 10 as per WHO’s report.
Allahabad, India
Allahabad is located in the Northern Uttar Pradesh state in India. The city was founded in 1583 by the Mughal emperor Akbar who named it al-Ilahabad (City of God). It has various glass and wire-based industries.
The main industrial areas of Allahabad are Naini and Phulpur. Several public and private sector companies and offices are operating in these areas. It also has a converted PM10.
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Riyadh is the capital city of Saudia Arabia and is the most densely populated city. It turned into a modern metropolis after the 1940s. According to the reports from WHO, the city has a converted PM10 level of air pollution.
Al-Jubail, Saudi Arabia
Al-Jubail is the largest industrial city in the Middle East. It is located in the Eastern Province of the Persian Gulf on the coast of Saudi Arabia. It has the Middle East’s largest and world’s fourth largest petrochemical company. In 2014 the reports showed that Al-Jubail has an air pollution level of PM10.
