3. Egypt
Annual mean concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in urban areas (μg/m3): 100.6
Air pollution is well known and not-so-new problem in Egypt. Known as “black cloud,” the dense smoke appeared for the first time in 1997. It spread rapidly and now, it accounts for 42% of countries air pollution. Smog is mostly produced by farmers who pile and burn rice straws instead of recycling them. The Egyptian Ministry of Environment takes this issue seriously, and they use satellites to locate the farmers who burn rice straws.
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