It is now known how harmful pollution is for the well-being of people and for this reason, in recent times , the control of air, water and land has become essential for many countries.
Unfortunately, there are many people who every year develop cancer and respiratory diseases precisely because of the high levels of PM 10 (fine dust) and PM 2.5 (even finer dust, which manage to overcome the barrier of pulmonary alveoli and then enter the bloodstream).
Numbeo has drawn up a list of the most polluted citiesand among the criteria analyzed there are air quality, access to drinking water, waste management, noise and light pollution and much more. Unfortunately, some of these places belong to our beautiful Italy and in 6th place is Naples, 11th Turin, 14th Milan and 15th Rome.
Here are the top 10 most polluted cities in Europe in 2022 !
10 – Sarajevo, Bosnia Herzegovina – pollution index 70.01
The capital of Bosnia Herzegovina has been one of the most polluted cities in Europe for some years now. The values ​​for fine dust in the air are very high and smog is constant.
Unfortunately , its position inside a basin between hills and mountains does not help the air circulationand when it is not raining and there is no wind the smog remains all in the city.
In addition, traffic and coal heating worsen the situation and more and more people suffer from respiratory problems, heart disease and blood .
9 – Krakow, Poland – pollution index 71.11
In ninth place is the Polish capital.
The causes are to be found in industries, fueled for years by coal which is the same fuel that generates electricity and domestic heating.
Often it is then placed side by side with plastic and waste and burned in antiquated boilers.
For some years it seems that the government of the nationalist right has been taking note of the problems andit is shaping a more ecological conscience .
8 – Bucharest, Romania – pollution index 74.88
It is the capital and commercial center of Romania, and has very high levels of pollution … just think that in recent months it has reached a level of 263 ug / m3, when the guidelines of the ‘WHO say it shouldn’t exceed 25 ug / m3.
The blame is given to fires and the burning of waste , but its eighth position among the most polluted cities is also due to the high levels of city dirt , air and water pollution and the limited availability of green areas .
7 – Ekaterinburg, Russia – pollution index 76.86
It is the main industrial center of the Urals and is the fourth most inhabited city in Russia.
A city with a high index of air pollution , where there is inaccessibility of drinking water , where there is dirt on the streets and the absence of green areas .
In recent years, many citizens have taken to the streets protesting against the government that does not deal with environmental policies and is turning the country into a landfill.
6 – Naples, Italy – pollution index 78.43
The capital of Campania, known for its beauties, unfortunately also has a negative record: it is in 6th place among the most polluted cities in Europe and in first place among the Italian ones.
In some districts, such as the historic center and the Port area, the air quality is very bad and the dirt and clutter are also very harmful.
Citizens also complain about the presence of few green spaces and non-drinking water.
The result is that every year premature deaths due to pollution are increasing and are also causing economic damage to health.
5 – Dnipro, Ukraine – pollution index 82.38
It is the third most populous city in Ukraine, and has been living for several yearswrapped in a blanket of smog , the air is unbreathable and yet the citizens seem little worried about the situation.
To the pollution of the air is added that of the soil, water and the problem of waste disposal that cause thousands of deaths and unfortunately underestimated ecological damage. Fires that release sulfur, lead and heavy metals
also play a heavy role , all substances that can cause very dangerous diseases and even be fatal 4 – Skopje, North Macedonia – pollution index 83.36
The capital of Macedonia is in fourth place, however it seems that the problem is neglected for most of the year and only when winter arrives does the population realize how much the smog suffocates cities and inhabitants.
Poor air quality is primarily caused by the microparticles of PM10 and PM 2.5 which penetrate deeply into the body causing respiratory, heart and oncological problems .
Among the main sources of pollution are combustion processes, transport and waste collection.
3 – Tirana, Albania – pollution index 83.36
The capital of Albania is in 3rd place as citizens and governments have little sensitivity towards waste managementand the most ecological forms of energy.
In addition to air pollution caused by old cars, industries and the use of fossil fuels, noise pollution has also reached very high levels .
The inaccessibility of drinking water and the availability of green areas worsen the situation even more and every year too many people are dead or ill due to smog.
2 – Chelyabinsk, Russia – pollution index 88.42
Capital of the homonymous region, the city has about 1 million inhabitants and is famous for its numerous tank companies .
In this place you can breathe acrid air that tastes of smog and chemicals, visibility is often reduced and it is shrouded in perennial fog.For years, environmental associations have been fighting to prevent the construction of a huge copper processing plant that would cause even more pollution due to the resulting deforestation and contamination of the Shershnev basin.
1 – Tetovo, North Macedonia – pollution index 97.33
Photo by Hala madrid92. It is the most polluted city in Europe , the Macedonian locality on the border with Kosovo where due to a PM 2.5 per cubic meter of 81 micrograms. People are advised against cycling more than two hours a day.
The cause of the pollution is to be found in a combination of elements, such as mold, dirt, diesel soot, wood smoke, coal and metal that are produced by industries , still very old transport and combustion processes .
In addition to all this is the absence of green areas , the availability of drinking water and the dirt and disorder for the city.
Classification criteria
The classification is based on data collected by Numbeo on the Pollution Index. The value and the resultant of the following pollution indices:
- Air quality
- Access to drinking water
- Water pollution
- Waste management
- Perception of the population on cleanliness and order
- Sound and light pollution at night
- Presence of public green
- Degree of discomfort in living in the city due to pollution
The Pollution Index, however, attributes greater weight to items concerning air and water pollution and less to other indices such as noise pollution and the degree of discomfort of the population.
