There are some countries in the world where the air is so polluted you can forget about coming home with a healthy holiday glow.
The World Health Organization (WHO) released its 2014 report into global air pollution with some concerning finds.
The database looked at the air pollution levels of 1600 cities across 19 countries by using a reading called PM2.5 and PM10. PM2.5 is considered the best indicator of assessing health impacts from air pollution and examines the concentration of fine particulate pollution of 2.5 micrometers or less in diameter (PM2.5).
These particles might be smoke, dirt, mould or pollen and their fine size poses the biggest risks to human health as they can be inhaled and accumulated in the respiratory system. WHO says there is no safe level of PM2.5.
Here are the 10 most polluted countries in the world.
1. Pakistan
2. Qatar
Average PM2.5 pollution: 92 ug/m3
With a population of 2 million people and growing, Qatar also faces increased pollution from its high rate of construction and busy air traffic making it the second most polluted country in the world.
3. Afghanistan
4. Bangladesh
5. Iran
6. Egypt
Average PM2.5 pollution: 74 ug/m3
The average resident of Cairo breathes in more than 20 times the acceptable level of air pollution every day according to WHO. The growing number of cars, factories and power plants, and the use of old heating methods such as burning coal and wood are considered to be the main man-made sources of air pollution.
7. Mongolia
8. United Arab Emirates
Average PM2.5 pollution: 61 ug/m3
It may be one of the richest regions in the world, but it has made its fortune from the oil and gas industries that are notoriously filthy. With a population of more than 9 million, Dubai launched an annual “car free day” in 2010 to try and tackle its problems with congestion and pollution.
9. India
10. Bahrain
Average PM2.5 pollution: 57 ug/m3
Air pollution is not entirely relegated to the world’s developing nations. The high income country of Bahrain may only have a population of 1.3 million but it scraped in at number 10 on the list due to its high levels of pollution from energy production, dust, smoke and industrial emissions.