Air quality worsening in world\\\'s cities

Most city dwellers around the world are exposed to air pollution levels that are considered unsafe, and the situation is getting worse, according to a World Health Organization report Wednesday.
"Globally, unfortunately, the situation of air pollution is deteriorating," Maria Neira, WHO director for public health, told reporters in Geneva as she presented an updated version of the UN health agency's Urban Air Quality database.
The database, covering 1,600 cities across 91 countries, revealed that only 12 percent of the world's urban residents enjoy air quality in line with WHO guidelines.
While a number of wealthy, developed nations are seeing improved air quality, cities in most low- and middle-income countries have seen pollution levels rise in recent years.
In fact, nearly half of the world's urban population is stuck breathing air with particle pollution levels that are at least two and a half times higher than what is considered safe, the WHO said, according to AFP.