Pakistan: Quetta,Peshawar,Lahore among world’s most polluted cities

http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/

Three cities of Pakistan have been listed among the top ten most polluted cities of the world.

According to a 2011 World Health Organisation (WHO) report, Quetta, Peshawar and Lahore ranked at number four, six and 10, respectively.

The pollution is measured as the microgramme (mcg) concentration per cubic metre of air of particulate matter smaller than 10 micrometres (PM10)—about a seventh of the width of a human hair.

The figures are the average for the year. Seasonal spikes can be many times higher.

The WHO’s health guidelines are maximum exposure of 20 mcg/m3, measured as an annual average.

The list was topped by Ahvaz, a city in Iran with 372 mcg/m3 of pollution.

Ulan Bator of Mongolia was ranked at number two while another city of Iran, Sanandaj was ranked third.

Our very own Quetta was tied at number four along with Ludhiana, India at 251 mcg/m3 of pollution.

Peshawar, at number six, was measured at 219 mcg/m3 pollution according to 2003,2004 data while the Punjab’s metropolitan Lahore made it to number 10 with 200 mcg/m3 of pollution according to data of 2003/4.