The most polluted city? It’s not in China
While Beijing smothered Monday under a cloud of smog and a reputation for horrible air, other cities in the world quietly vie for the tarnished crown of world’s most polluted city. This year’s winner: Zabol, Iran. Beijing and much of northeastern China are shrouded in a smog red alert, causing some factories to shut down, highways to close and airlines to cancel flights. But the World Health Organization ranks the world’s cities based on air pollution, and the worst Chinese city, Xingtai, ranks only ninth on the 2016 list.
WHO’s ranking, released in May, is based on the amount of PM 2.5 — particle matter smaller than 2.5 microns in diameter common to dust, soot and smoke. PM 2.5 is nasty because it can get stuck in the lungs and cause or aggravate asthma and other longterm health problems.
WHO guidelines call for no more than 10 micrograms of PM 2.5 per cubic meter of air. Dusty Zabol averages a whopping 217. Other cities cracking the top five: Gwalior, India, at 176; Allahabad, India, at 170; Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, at 156; and Al Jubail, Saudi Arabia, at 152. Beijing suffered Monday at levels hovering above 200; other Chinese cities have pushed close to 1,000 recently.
The tide can be turned. 2015’s most polluted city, New Delhi, slid to 11 in 2016 after a crackdown that included bans on the most polluting cars and trucks and fines for for burning trash.
Breathe easier, America. The worst U.S. city didn’t crack WHO’s top 1,000. Visalia, Calif., checked in at 1,080.