THE 15 MOST POLLUTED COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD - ENVIRONMENT - 2025

The most polluted countries in the world are those with the worst permanent environmental conditions. Among them are China and Bangladesh, mainly due to problems in air and water quality. Other countries with high pollution are India and Belarus due to nuclear radiation and particle content in the air.

Contamination is the introduction into a medium of an element foreign to it, altering its functional conditions according to defined parameters. In this sense, a country can be considered polluted from various points of view, be it by water, air or soil.

Air pollution from industrial activity in China. Source: Andreas Habich

Pollution may be associated with natural or man-made causes, and within the latter there are multiple sources. Among these we find the generation and inadequate management of solid waste, deficient treatment of wastewater or nuclear radiation.

Among the main problems of soil contamination are solid waste, heavy metals, pesticides, oil and derivatives.

The waters are contaminated by untreated sewage that adds feces, detergents and industrial chemicals. On the other hand, runoff systems carry agrochemicals and heavy metals, among other elements.

The air is polluted with gas emissions, including so-called greenhouse gases.

Therefore, it is not easy to define which countries are the most polluted in the world, much less order them in a hierarchy or ranking. However, it is possible to make a global list of the most polluted countries without attempting a strict ranking.

List of the most polluted countries in the world

-China

This vast and overcrowded country is reputed to be one of the most polluted on the planet. Around 700 million people in China (about half the population), consume water with levels of contamination with feces higher than allowed.

In this sense, more than 86% of the rural population only has access to water with a high degree of contamination. On the other hand, it is estimated that more than 70% of the country's beaches are contaminated.

Water and soil

The waters and soils of the Yangtze River Basin have high levels of heavy metals such as cadmium, copper, lead and zinc. The sources of these pollutants are industrial emissions, sewage and solid waste. Mercury emissions on the east and south coasts of China reach alarming levels.

Air

The 15 cities with the worst air quality in East Asia are in China, with PM2.5 levels above 65 µg / m³. The most used index to establish air pollution is the presence of suspended mass particles, which penetrate the respiratory tract.

In this sense, the PM10 index measures the amount of particles smaller than 10 microns (µ) in micrograms per cubic meter (µg / m³). Another index that is taken into account is PM2.5, estimating particles smaller than 2.5 µm.

The level recommended by the World Health Organization is 10 µg / m³ and above 35 µg / m³ is considered unhealthy.

On the other hand, China is the world's largest producer and consumer of coal, thus emitting large amounts of CO2 into the environment. Furthermore, the combustion of coal produces mercury emissions.

Another major cause of air pollution in China is the excessive use of pesticides. This is because it is the largest producer and consumer of them in the world.

East and southeast coast

There are multiple negative environmental impact problems in the eastern and southeastern region of the country. Special Economic Zones were created in this area to promote industrial and mining development.

Currently, this is one of the areas with the highest levels of mercury contamination on the planet.

-Bangladesh

Garbage dump in Dhaka (Bangladesh). Source: Francisco Magallon

This country faces serious problems of water, air and soil pollution.

Water

Groundwater contamination by arsenic from natural sources in Bangladesh is perhaps the largest case of mass poisoning in the world. In total, about 70 million people are affected.

In addition, more than 200 rivers receive industrial waste and untreated urban effluent. Thus, in the Dhaka area around 700 tanneries discharge around 16,000 m³ of toxic waste daily.

Dhaka and its surroundings

Dhaka, the capital of the country, is the second city with the worst air quality on the planet. It has been determined to exceed 5 to 12 times the allowable levels of NO2, SO2, CO, and suspended particles.

Traditional brick kilns in Bangladesh are one of the main sources of greenhouse gases. The carbon dioxide emissions they generate are estimated at 3 million tons per year.

In the areas near the capital there are factories of lead acid batteries, which is the main pollutant in this area. Lead dust has been found to contaminate the soil, air, and water in nearby residential and commercial areas.

On the other hand, more than 500 hospitals in Dhaka generate hazardous waste that goes into the environment without any treatment.

-India

Water pollution in India. Source: MilaAdam

This is another of the overcrowded countries that faces serious pollution problems, especially of soil and water.

Floor

In the country's capital New Delhi, the so-called "Garbage Everest" is found in the Ghazipur landfill. This is an accumulation of waste that covers an area equivalent to 40 football fields and approximately 70 meters high.

Air

New Delhi is the capital city with the worst air quality in the world with a PM2.5 of 113.5 µg / m³. On the other hand, 14 of the 15 cities with the most polluted air in South Asia are in India.

Water

Pollution by pesticides is another serious problem in the country, as well as eutrophication phenomena due to excess fertilizers. Also, India is one of the countries with the most mercury emissions.

Similarly, several basins are seriously polluted by untreated industrial discharges such as the Periyar river basin. In this region is located the industrial zone of Kochi with industries of manufacture of batteries, fertilizers and pesticides.

On the other hand, in Kochi there are oil, heavy metal and radioactive mineral processing plants that discharge their effluents into the river. In addition, to this must be added the agricultural runoff that carries large amounts of pesticides.

-Belorussia

Nuclear contamination

This eastern European country has serious nuclear contamination problems, mainly as a result of the Chernobyl accident. It is estimated that 23% of the Belarusian territory was affected by radiation.

In this sense, it is indicated that 70% of the radioactive particles emitted during the accident were distributed throughout the country.

Water

On the other hand, the level of contamination of the water of the rivers near the city of Minsk is quite high. Among the contaminants present are petroleum, heavy metals, and hydrogen sulfide.

-Ukraine

This country has a compromised environment for various reasons. Among others, the following may be mentioned.

Nuclear contamination

During 1986 the Chernobyl catastrophe occurred in its territory, close to the border with Belarus. Due to this nuclear accident about 10% of Ukraine was affected by radioactive fallout.

To this day the 19-mile exclusion zone around the plant remains uninhabitable.

Air, water and soil

Air pollution is severe, due to coal-fired power plants and urban centers. On the other hand, mining has generated a strong environmental impact, especially by polluting aquifers.

-Afghanistan

Floor

The biggest pollution problems in this country are related to solid waste management. Domestic, industrial and medical waste is dumped directly into the streets or landfills without any control.

Water

One of the most serious problems is that there is no treatment of wastewater, which flows into open sewers. Therefore, they end up contaminating surface and groundwater.

Another important source of water pollution is oil spills and their derivatives.

Air

Its capital, Kabul, has high levels of air pollution, with nitrogen dioxide concentrations more than 900 times what is allowed. In addition, the PM2.5 index is 61.8 µg / m³, making it the third city with the most polluted air in the world for 2018.

According to a report from the Ministry of Health of that country, said contamination could be the cause of the 4% increase in mortality.

-Russia

Pollution in Russia. Source:

75% of the country's waters are contaminated and only 8% of wastewater is fully treated before being reintegrated into the environment. In addition, the Volga River receives about 400 kg / year of mercury due to the chlor-alkali plant on its bank.

In the Black Sea and the Caspian, there have been problems of massive fish kills associated with high levels of hydrogen sulfide from industrial sources.

On the other hand, about 200 cities in Russia exceed the permitted limits for air pollution. It has been recorded that this country emits about 400 million tons of CO2 per year.

-Albania

Air

Its capital, Tirana, has PM10 and NO2 levels higher than those established by the World Health Organization.

Water

The Tirana and Lama rivers, which run through the capital, have high levels of pollution from untreated wastewater discharges. In other watercourses, pollution from industrial and mining discharges is very high.

Vlora Bay has high levels of mercury contamination as a result of industrial effluents. They come from an old chlor-alkali and PVC plant located on the seashore that operated until 1992.

Floor

Solid waste is poorly managed, so garbage represents a serious problem.

-Pakistan

Air

The main problem in this country is poor air quality, since in its urban areas it reaches levels of PM2.5 close to 115 µg / m³.

Pakistani Manchester

In the northeastern region of the country is Faisalabad, the third largest city in the country, known as Manchester of Pakistan. The region is cataloged with high levels of environmental pollution.

The area has abundant industries that manufacture textiles, medicines, chemical fertilizers, bicycles, textile machinery, hosiery, flour, sugar, vegetable oil and soap. In addition, it is a cotton producing area, which is a crop with a high use of agrochemicals.

Pollution in the region is quite high, since the effluents from all these industries are not treated. Therefore, they are dumped directly into rivers and other water courses.

-Saudi Arabia

The fundamental problem for which this country is considered one of the most polluted in the world is air quality.

Saudi Arabia has one of the highest concentration rates for suspended solid particles in the world. The PM10 index stands at 127.1 ppm and this situation is aggravated by the desert environmental conditions in the region.

Likewise, the country is among the 10 most polluting in the world for its high CO2 emissions.

-Thailand

Water and soil

Tha Tum village (Lamphun province) has 75 factories, including a coal-fired power station that consumes 900,000 tonnes / year of coal.

Likewise, in this region there is also a pulp and paper factory that produces 500,000 tons / year of paper. All of these industries are sources of mercury contamination.

As a consequence of this, the fish consumed in the area and the people have mercury levels that exceed what is allowed.

Air

Of the 15 cities with the worst air quality in Southeast Asia, 10 are Thai. These include Samut Sakhon with a PM2.5 of 39.8 µg / m³ and Nakhon Ratchasima with 37.6 µg / m³, which occupy the third and fourth place.

-Indonesia

Garbage dump in Jakarta (Indonesia). Source: Jonathan McIntosh

Soil and water

Illegal artisanal gold mining is a source of mercury contamination in soils and waters. In 2010 about 280 tons of mercury were illegally imported into Indonesia for this purpose.

Air

Air pollution reaches unhealthy levels with PM2.5 exceeding 40 µg / m³ in the capital Jakarta. This city is located in the first place of those with the most polluted air in Southeast Asia.

The main sources of pollution are automobile traffic and the burning of solid fuels (firewood and charcoal). In this sense, it must be considered that 28% of the country's homes still depend on solid fuels.

-Poland

It is considered the most polluted country in Europe, mainly due to the business of importing garbage to process it. Subsequently, indiscriminate burning of this garbage is carried out, generating high levels of air pollution.

During 2017, Poland imported more than 730,000 tons of garbage from Germany, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Australia. Thus, the development of this industry without any type of control has caused a negative environmental impact.

On the other hand, a high percentage of the Polish population depends for energy on coal for heating. In this sense, the World Health Organization estimates that about 50,000 people die a year in the country due to air pollution.

-Mexico

Air pollution in the Valley of Mexico (Mexico). Source: NASA

Air and soil

Mexico City has serious air pollution problems due to industrial emissions and automobile traffic. During 2018, it ranked 30 among the capital cities with the most polluted air in the world.

On the other hand, it is the second city with the highest amount of solid waste worldwide, with around 12 million tons per year.

Water

The Gulf of Mexico basin presents problems of oil and mercury contamination. In the state of Veracruz, there is a chlor-alkali plant with mercury cells that empties into the Gulf of Mexico.

On the other hand, an oil and gas refinery is located on the Coatzacoalcos river, which also discharges its waters into the Gulf.

Lake Chapala is the largest basin in Mexico and supplies water for one-eighth of the country's lands. The levels of contamination by mercury, arsenic, cadmium and lead in this basin are high, due to industrial and agricultural activity.

Likewise, oil spills cause serious pollution problems in various parts of the country.

-U.S

Water pollution in the United States of America. Source: National Archives at College Park

Air

It is estimated that this is the second country with the highest levels of greenhouse gas emissions, especially CO2 and methane. In relation to air quality, the most polluted cities are located in California towards the Pacific coast.

Water

The biggest environmental pollution problem in the United States after gas emissions is nutrient pollution. In this sense, some 15,000 bodies of water are affected by excess nutrients mainly due to agricultural activity.

In addition, 78% of the continental coastline exhibits abnormal development of algae as a result of eutrophication. On the other hand, chromium-6 (a carcinogenic compound) has been found in the drinking water of 35 cities in the United States.

Gulf of Mexico dead zone

One of the most serious cases of contamination in the country is the dead zone of the Gulf of Mexico. This area occupies an area of ​​22,729 km2 of sea where marine life does not thrive.

This phenomenon is caused by eutrophication due to the load of fertilizers and other organic products carried by the Mississippi River.

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