The country is the leader in the number of cities in the "dirtiest" ranking of the world

Asia is in the lead in the ranking of the most polluted cities in the world compiled by the Swiss company IQAir, and India is among the countries with 13 locations. This is reported by CNN.

Four cities from Pakistan and one of China, Kazakhstan and Chad. But the leadership is still for India, and the capital of the African state Chad N'Djamena turned out to be the only non-Asian city in the ranking.

The data are given in relation to measurements of contamination with PM 2.5 particles. Suspended particles are a complex mixture of very small particles and liquid droplets.

India has done a lot of industrialization, but its development was based on fossil fuels. In the world's most populous country, the air is also polluted due to heavy traffic. The most polluted city is called Birnihat, 70,000 people live in it, it is located in the north-east of the country, and the concentration of PM2.5 particles here is 25 times higher than WHO standards. There are many factories in this city, intensive construction is underway, a large number of trees are being cut down.

PM2.5 particles arise from the burning of fossil fuels, dust storms and forest fires. They are so small— 20 times thinner than a hair —that they can bypass the body's usual defense mechanisms and reach the lungs or bloodstream. These particles cause irritation and inflammation, are associated with respiratory problems and chronic kidney disease. Exposure can lead to cancer, stroke, or heart attack, and is also associated with a higher risk of depression and anxiety.