Don't Breathe! Parts of the world to avoid? That's Easy! Unless you live there!!

This post was first published in June 2017.  It is now July 2020 and the content is due for an UPDATE.  Information presented below the 3 highlighted asterisks (* * * ) was presented in 2017 and it was based on a map dated 2014.  I have been able to determine that the map has changed since 2014.  I also determined that something else of interest to all of mankind has happened since 2014/2017.

Here is UPDATE for this post.
In 2020, the World Health Organization officially announced that "we" are all in the midst of a COVID-19 pandemic.  "We"?  That means EVERYBODY IN THE WORLD!!  As horrific as that sounds, believe it or not, there's a bright side.

Because of the pandemic, people have been required to shelter in place, at home, to prevent the spread of the disease.  As a result?  The air is more breathable!  Who would have thunk it!

Check out these headlines.

• Air pollution falls by unprecedented levels in major global cities during coronavirus lockdowns by Helen Regan, CNN, Updated 12:05 AM ET, Thu April 23, 2020

• Before-and-after photos show the dramatic effect lockdowns are having on pollution around the world by Sophie-Claire Hoeller May 15, 2020, 11:55 AM

Some scientists are saying these effects are short-term and won't last.  No, of course, they won't!  Because humans are not going to be locked down FOREVER!  (At least "We" hope not!)

• The short-term impacts of COVID-19 lockdown on urban air pollution in China | Nature Sustainability July 7, 2020

RECOMMENDED READING:
Informative Data Showing the Impact of Pollution: Hannah Ritchie (2017) - "Air Pollution". Published online at OurWorldInData.org. Retrieved from: 'https://ourworldindata.org/air-pollution' [Online Resource]

A map has been updated for 2020.  Sadly, there are some countries who bumped the other countries and have moved into the Top Ten List for "Worst Air Quality".

World Live Air Quality Map | AirVisual - IQAir

This chart compares the 2014 data with the 2019 ranking.

2014	2019
Ukraine	Bangladesh
India	Pakistan
China	Mongolia
Indonesia	Afghanistan
Russia	India
Ghana	Indonesia
Nigeria	Bahrain
Bangladesh	Nepal
Azerbaijan	Uzbekistan
Zambia	Iraq

* * *
Cities listed by mapsoftheworld.com in 2014 as “the most polluted places around the world having either the worst air or water quality due to industrial, chemical, and waste processing”:

1. Chernobyl, Ukraine
2. Delhi, India
3. Baoding, China
4. Citarum River, Indonesia
5. Dzerzhinsk, Russia
6. Agbogbloshie in Ghana
7. Norilsk, Russia
8. Niger Delta, Nigeria
9. Hazaribagh, Bangladesh
10. Central Kalimantan, Indonesia
11. Sumgayit, Azerbaijan
12. Kabwe, Zambia
13. La Oroya, Peru
14. Matanza-Riachuelo, Argentina
15. Ahvaz, Iran

“The World Health Organization had named the city of Ahvaz in western Iran as one of the most polluted cities in the world.”

"Around the World : Pollution Around the World." Maps of the World. Compare Infobase Ltd., 22 Sept. 2015. Web. 05 June 2017.

♦ ♦ ♦
Being the typical selfish arrogant ignorant American, I checked the list of places with the worst and the best air quality. USA was not on either list. However, Bloomberg did say that the air quality in New York is the best it's ever been in 50 years. I don't know how to interpret that statement. I'm just glad I don't live in New York!

I ♥ New York.  I just don't want to live there. 😊

Do you sometimes wonder if earthquakes, hurricanes, and other natural disasters are God's way of cleaning the environment?  It's not as if we can load planet earth into a washing machine.


NOTE:  I am not a scientist and I don't track air quality.  If you see anything in this post that warrants correction and/or updating, feel free to call me out. PLEASE!!