Category Archives: Iraq

Iraq faces an increasing number of severe dust storms

Today’s Image of the Day from NASA Earth Observatory features a severe dust storm in Iraq. Dust storms are most common in this region in the late spring and summer, triggered by seasonal winds such as the “shamal” that blows … Continue reading

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Report Finds that 97 Percent of Global Cities Did Not Meet Latest WHO Air Quality Guideline

The 2021 World Air Quality Report finds that only three percent of cities and no single country met the latest World Health Organization’s (WHO) PM2.5 annual air quality guideline. The report analyzes PM2.5 air pollution measurements from air monitoring stations … Continue reading

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New research finds 1M deaths in 2017 attributable to fossil fuel combustion

An interdisciplinary group of researchers from across the globe has comprehensively examined the sources and health effects of air pollution—not just on a global scale, but also individually for more than 200 countries. They found that worldwide, more than one … Continue reading

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London’s quality of life ranking slips over pollution and traffic 

London has slipped down a list of the best cities in the world for quality of life due to high levels of traffic and pollution. The capital placed 40th in the 19th annual Mercer Quality of Life Survey. London was … Continue reading

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Satellite images reveal toxic clouds enveloping northern Iraq

As Iraqi forces fight to retake Mosul from the so-called Islamic State (ISIS), clouds of toxic fumes are spreading across northern Iraq. The acrid smoke, which is so significant it is visible from space, is threatening to harm Iraqis’ health … Continue reading

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Iraqi children pay high health cost of war-induced air pollution, study finds 

Researchers identify exposure to toxic materials from explosion of munitions and burning of military waste by US army as cause of birth defects and cancers Air pollution caused by war may be a major factor in the numbers of birth … Continue reading

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How does London’s air pollution compare to other cities? 

While the UK issues a weather warning over Saharan dust cloud, over 1,500 cities around the world have a higher level of pollution Despite its reputation as a smog-filled metropolis affected by air pollution, dust from the Sahara and other … Continue reading

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Middle East conflict ‘drastically altered’ air pollution levels in region – study

War, humanitarian catastrophe and economic crises in the Middle East have drastically altered air pollution levels in the region, according to a new study. In major cities across Syria, Iraq, Palestine and Egypt, the levels of nitrogen oxides have dropped … Continue reading

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