Top 10 Most Polluted Countires in The World
10) Kuwait
The cause of pollution is mainly by oil refineries and industrial plants. Because of this, people suffer from high rates of respiratory diseases such as asthma, cancer and skin conditions.
9) Nigeria
The Niger Delta region has experienced some of the worst oil spills in history. Pipeline vandalism often contributes to oil spills. This results in contaminated drinking water, land, and ecosystems.
8) Iran
Air pollution exists because the country produces low-quality gasoline. The fuel contains high levels of octane and is manufactured in petrochemical plants rather than refineries, which is a huge disadvantage. The country also has more than 3.5 million vehicles on the road.
7) United Arab Emirates
The main contributors of air pollution are UAE’s oil and gas industries and the transportation sector. Forty two percent of air pollution in the city comes from vehicles. The UAE is one of the world’s biggest producers of waste. Its water usage is also among the world’s highest.
6) Egypt
Egypt’s biggest source of pollution are factories since they pollute the air with lead, gases and cement dust. In addition, vehicle exhaust fumes are a major problem. The roads have 2.1 million vehicles as of 2007. Air pollution increased in February when thick clouds of tear gas and toxic fumes filled the sky when trying to overthrow Hosni Mubarak. Farmers also burn rice chaff and other crop remnants. This is called “Black Cloud” and is responsible for over forty percent of the air pollution in Cairo.
5) Saudi Arabia
Oil and other industrial activities near the coast have led to sewage outflows, and oil and chemical plumes. The country also struggles with high levels of vehicle exhausts causes outbreaks of respiratory diseases.
4) Senegal
Pollution comes from mining, vehicle emissions and combustion of fuels for domestic energy needs. Senegal also has high levels of auto pollution because eighty-five percent of all vehicles in its largest city Dakar are old. It also has high concentrations of natural fluoride in its ground water. High levels of fluoride can lead to tooth and bone decay.
3) Pakistan
Pollution is caused by carbon emissions that have led to a cloak of thick smoke. The country also contains water pollution from raw sewage and industrial waste.
2) Botswana
The country’s environmental damage is caused by wild fires and pollution from the mineral industry, which are the main sources of the country’s poor air quality.
1) Mongolia
The country’s main sources of pollution are its traditional coal-fuelled stoves and boilers used for heating and cooking, as well as congested traffic and old cars. Ulaanbaatar, one of the world’s most polluted cities, has dry climate and severe windstorms, which further worsen its dangerous levels of airborne dust. With severe air pollution, the number of premature deaths, chronic bronchitis and respiratory related hospital admissions are on a rapid rise due to rapid urbanization.
Yasmine Bazan