Cairo was ranked one of the most polluted tourist destinations (Image: Getty)
New research has revealed that one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations is also one of its most
Cairo, the capital city of attracts 14.9 million visitors annually, but comes on top of ten destinations with the highest pollution. The study, by revealed pollution levels in top tourist cities worldwide.
The analysis identified these destinations based on their average annual number of visitors. Pollution levels were assessed using key indicators, including the Air Quality Index, PM2.5 concentrations (which are the tiny air particles harmful to health), water quality index, and noise levels. These metrics were then combined into a pollution score to rank cities by environmental conditions.
Cairo’s Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 160, reflecting unhealthy air conditions. For comparison, an AQI that’s considered normal and healthy is around 36. Cairo’s PM2.5 concentrations reached 68.4 µg/m³—well above the WHO’s recommended safe limit of 5 µg/m³.
Despite its pollution levels, Cairo is still a massively popular tourist destination, being home to the Great Pyramids of Giza – one of the wonders of the world.
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The pyramids at sunrise (Image: Getty)
It’s not just the Pyramids that Cairo has to offer though – this gorgeous city has something for everyone to marvel at.
The is the oldest archaeological museum in the Middle East. It has more than 17,000 artefacts, including a collection of mummies and sarcophagi and is perfect for a day’s exploring. One thing to note is that it can get very busy, so try and arrive early if you want to explore without hordes of tourists.
The River Nile, one of the most famous in the world, winds through the city and a great way to explore is to book a boat cruise down it. Trips can take several hours and you get a fabulous view of the city from the water.
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The River Nile winds through Cairo (Image: Getty)
Despite its pollution, Cairo is still a fabulous place to visit with plenty to see and do.
If you’re interested in seeing the rankings of other popular cities, the full list of countries is below.
|
City Name |
Country Name |
Average Annual Number of Tourists (Million) |
Average Noise Levels (dBA) |
Air Quality Index (AQI) – the lower the cleaner |
PM2.5 air pollution (µg/m³) – the lower the cleaner |
Water Quality Index |
Waste Collection Rate |
Pollution Score |
|
Cairo |
Egypt |
14.90 |
85.00 |
160 |
68.4 |
45 |
45 |
98 |
|
Los Angeles |
USA |
49.10 |
50.00 |
116 |
41.5 |
68 |
68 |
51.17 |
|
Hong Kong |
China |
14.70 |
91.40 |
83 |
26.5 |
69 |
69 |
50.33 |
|
Bangkok |
Thailand |
12.20 |
55.30 |
91 |
30.8 |
56 |
56 |
48.97 |
|
San Diego |
USA |
31.80 |
75.00 |
73 |
20.8 |
67 |
67 |
40.04 |
|
Phuket |
Thailand |
8.40 |
71.00 |
58 |
13.1 |
54 |
54 |
40 |
|
Athens |
Greece |
6.40 |
55.00 |
81 |
25.1 |
63 |
63 |
39.87 |
|
Cancun |
Mexico |
10.80 |
103.00 |
15 |
2.8 |
55 |
55 |
36.66 |
|
Dubai |
UAE |
16.80 |
54.50 |
66 |
17 |
58 |
58 |
36.12 |
|
San Francisco |
USA |
23.10 |
73.00 |
82 |
25.9 |
83 |
83 |
34.15 |