There are places in the world where pollution thrives, with high contamination of soil, air and waterways. The modern world has made some areas less livable and safe for human health, but also for that of local flora and fauna. In these places, where the level of environmental well-being is low, there is also a greater incidence of diseases affecting not only the lungs.
The data on air pollution are disturbing and they exist most polluted places (and pollutants) in the world, which are of concern. On average, it is believed that 30 gigatons of CO2 are released into the Earth’s atmosphere every year. Which makes us understand how much the problem has become an emergency that needs to be managed in a timely manner.
In fact, greenhouse gas emissions are the basis of climate change and some countries, those most linked to the consumption of fossil fuels, are the most responsible. The damage is not only environmental, as one can imagine, but also health-related, with a worrying incidence of respiratory diseases in some areas of the world.
The World Health Organization shows merciless data: nine out of ten people on the planet breathe polluted air. The problem is greater among those who live in conditions of poverty. In fact, 97% of cities in low- and middle-income countries, with more than 100,000 residents, do not meet air quality standards for health.
But these unhealthy situations do not only translate into problems affecting the bronchi and lungs, given that countless studies demonstrate how pollution causes other diseases. Examples are cardiovascular and renal diseases, which have a greater incidence where environments are polluted.
The 5 most polluted places in the world
There are some sad winners in the category of polluting countries and polluted, places like China, which holds the record for global CO2 emissions. But things are no better for the United States, which is in second place in the ranking. It is no coincidence that these are two realities where industrialization has moved in a more impressive way than elsewhere.
China, over 10,065 million tons of CO2 emitted
China is one of the great economic powers of the moment, it is the most populous country in the world and boasts an unparalleled export record. But China’s industrial revolution has done incalculable environmental damage.
The five Chinese provinces where the largest number of factories are located have higher carbon dioxide emissions than any other nation in the world. It is no coincidence that Beijing has, in recent years, been under special scrutiny due to its red-flag environmental problems.
United States, 5,416 million tons of CO2 emitted
The USA has been considered, since the beginning of the last century, one of the major commercial powers in the world, a title which, however, comes at a high price. Even if a series of initiatives have been carried out in recent times to combat climate change, pollution levels are still high and are not limited only to urban areas.
India, 2,654 million tonnes of CO2 emitted
It is no mystery that India is not only among the most polluted areas, but also the most contaminate of the planet, hosting 14 of the 15 worst environmentally friendly cities on the globe. This is stated by the WHO, which outlines disastrous scenarios regarding the consequences on human health.
The country has had a law that protects air quality since 1981, but the consumption of fossil fuels is always at the highest levels and this makes the environmental problem a real emergency. As a result, India occupies third place in the ranking of the most polluting countries in the world.
Russia, 1,711 million tons of CO2 emitted
Russia is, by extension, the largest country in the world and appears in this ranking due to its high dependence on oil, coal, gas and fossil fuels. In recent decades it has also experienced several environmental emergencies and has high levels of deforestation and uncontrolled hunting.
Japan, 1,162 million tons of CO2 emitted
Closing the list could only be Japan, another Asian reality in the ranking of the most polluted places in the world. Japan is the largest consumer of fossil fuels and the fifth largest emitter of greenhouse gases. The problem arises from the level of urban and industrial development of recent decades.
Sources
Source: www.greenstyle.it
