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[plumpy nut]

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/every-country-terrible-air-pollution-150513206.html

Saudi Arabia is the worst country for air pollution. Wear a mask when the sand particulates in the atmosphere are high.

[danshengou]

This is interesting to say the least. It is median values, but it does shine a light on a region that does not generally get as much attention for pollution as say China does. Granted, there are regions within China that far exceed the median reported here for Saudi, but China's extreme values are probably higher than Saudi's. And China's pollution tends to be emissions related, rather than sand - although areas like Beijing can get massive sandstorms too. Thanks for the info!

[siologen]

Plumpy, thanks for the article will look at it now. I think China might give the kingdom a run for it's money though!

And Dan, you are right about China. At Beijing airport, even a relative remarked on a picture I took that it looked like a "pea souper" in the days of old in England. But this was no fog or mist,like the locals would say in China, it was definitely particulate pollution, I also realize Beijing can be prone to dust too. There is a vid on youtube taken from a plane where the skies in I.M. are blue and clear, and then nearing Beijing it becomes darker and worsens. I saw the same thick pollution in Shandong also, perhaps even worse due to the industries/mining outside of Beijing.

[scot47]

I suffer from COPD and feel that it was probably caused by pollution in Dhahran/Khobar when I lived and worked there. Emissions from motor vehicles there are very heavy. Doctor practising at KFUPM Health Center told me that he had never seen such a high incidence of respiratory complaints anywhere else in his career.

(Notice how Saudi taught me to use American spelling !)

[mahdi1432]

This pollution is not SMOG pollution.
It's particles.

[plumpy nut]

It will still kill you.

[danshengou]

It's the PM 2.5 (fine particulates) that are the most harmful.

http://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/sand-dust-particulates/

"Although particulate matter (PM) emissions from natural and man-made sources are found worldwide, PM levels in Southwest Asia are naturally higher. Primary sources of PM in Southwest Asia include dust storms, vehicle exhaust, construction sites, farming, and emissions from local industries."

[siologen]

Is this the same type of pollution that is omnipresent in Beijing/Shandong province, that a nationalistic proud local will of course tell any foreigner is fog or mist.....to which I would tell them pull my other leg, it has no bells or hair on it

[In the heat of the moment]

Does Saudi have as high a rate of deaths (per capita, obvs) from pollution as China?

[Mr. Kalgukshi]

Off-topic, derailing and rambling postings deleted. Thread locked.