WHO study says air in Indian cities among dirtiest

India should follow China's example and clean up the air in its cities, which are among the world's worst for outdoor pollution, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday.

The WHO's database of more than 4,300 cities showed Indian cities such as New Delhi, Varanasi and Patna were among the most polluted, based on the amount of particulate matter under 2.5 micrograms found in every cubic meter of air.

Chinese cities such as Xingtai and Shijiazhuang and the Saudi refining hub at Jubail were also highly polluted, but the data for those places was 4-5 years old, and Maria Neira, WHO’s head of public health, said China had made big improvements that India should follow.

“There is a big step at the government level (in China) declaring war on air pollution,” Neira said. “One of the reasons for that is that the health argument was very strongly presented, and the fact that the citizens were really breathing air that was totally unacceptable.”

Delhi was the world's sixth most polluted city, according to the WHO. On Wednesday, air quality in the capital stood at 143 micrograms, which is "unhealthy for sensitive groups".

SS