Energy from the Earth - new media

EnvironmentCanadian Cities among World's Least Polluted,says WHOCanada's urban air quality was ranked among the best Mongolia was found to be the most polluted country,in the world by the World Health Organization raising with a pollution level of 279.its international reputation as one of the only places onUrban centres generally contribute most to airthe earth having a bountiful supply of natural purity.pollution, but almost all of the Canadian cities includedEight of the top 10 least polluted cities are Canadian, in the study had air pollution levels well below thethe United Nations agency said in its study of outdoor agency's guidelines, said WHO scientist Annette Prussaircontamination levels across 91 countries.Ustun, who helped compile the information. Airpollution levels begin to pose health risks once theyAgency officials compiled self-reported data on theexceed 20 micrograms per cubic metre, she said.number of microscopic airborne particles in some1,100 cities around the world between 2003 and The purity of the air in Whitehorse drew praise from the2010. city's mayor.The Yukon capital of Whitehorse topped the list of cities Sarnia, Ontario, registered the highest Canadianat 2.9 micrograms per cubic meter, the WHO said, with pollution levels at 21.2. That's pristine compared withthe British Columbia towns of Kitimat and Burns Lake the Iranian city of Ahwaz, which the WHO said postedrounding out the top three at 4.0 and 4.8 micrograms, pollution levels of 372.respectively.Canada's cleaner air is reflected in the comparativelyFive other Canadian cities made the top 10: the B.C. small number of people who die as a result of outdoorcommunities of Nanaimo, Terrace and Nelson, along pollution, Pruss-Ustun said.with Corner Brook, N.L., and Fredericton, all boast airWhile the agency blames pollution for an estimatedpollution levels below 6.5.1.34 million premature deaths each year, theOnly the eastern European nation of Estonia and the Canadian figure was just 2,400 in 2008, she said.tiny island nation of Mauritius, east of Madagascar,WHO said excessive air pollution can cause seriousfared better overall than Canada, which registered anrespiratory problems in humans, with mostoverall rating of 12.7, well shy of the internationalcontaminants coming from sulphur dioxide andaverage of 71.nitrogen dioxide emitted by power plants, automobilesand industry.Cities in Pakistan and India, such as Quetta andKanpur, as well as Botswana's capital, Gaborone, alsoranked high on the pollution scale.WHO said the reasons for high pollution levels varied,but that often rapid industrialization and the use of poorquality fuels for transportation and electricitygeneration are to blame.28Indo-Canadian Business October - December 2011