Insider Monkey compiled a new list of 15 cities with the cleanest air in the world. The list is particularly interesting since the majority of these cities are large cities familiar to all of us. One might wonder how is it possible that capital cities with more than million inhabitants make it on the list of cities with the cleanest air in the world. The answer is simple: planning and implementing eco-friendly solutions to the rising problem of pollution. It would be great if other cities/countries followed the example of these 15 cities with the cleanest air in the world because air pollution has a horrible impact on our health and environment as well.

According to the list of 16 Cleanest Countries in the World, cleanest air in the world in 2016 and 2017 was recorded in Iceland. Countries with vast territory, like the USA, often have both cities with the cleanest air and cities with most polluted air which depends mostly on the geographic position of the city. For example, Visalia-Porterville-Hanford metro area in California’s San Joaquin Valley, is the most polluted area in the US, while Hawaii is among the cleanest. The proximity of industrial plants will contribute to higher pollution levels while cities that are more isolated often tend to have better air quality. Studies have shown that air pollution has been connected with increased risks of developing kidney, bladder, colorectal and lung cancer. Connections are made between cancer and long-term exposures to three pollutants, namely, PM 2.5, ozone (O3) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). This is a huge issue since levels of pollution are not coming down and millions of people are exposed to various pollutants. In other words, in order to save millions of people, it is mandatory to improve air quality. While many families with kids opt for moving away from the cities in order to breathe cleaner air, this list shows us that it is possible to have clean air in urban areas and capital cities around the world.