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Poor urban areas are deeply affected with low-quality air levels that go beyond the accepted levels standardized by UN health agency as stated by a recent study from the World Health Organization (WHO). According to UN, 98 percent of urban cities in economically retrograde countries which has a population of more than 100,000 does not pass WHO air quality standards. The ambient air pollution database also showed that the demographic under these smoke-congested areas at the great possibilities of acquiring respiratory diseases and erstwhile continuing physical condition complications.

WHO Assistant-Director General for Family, Women's and Children's HealthFlaviaBustreo explained, "Air pollution is a major cause of disease and death. It is good news that more cities are stepping up to monitor air quality, so when they take actions to improve it they have a benchmark."

Flavia asserted that in high-income countries the percentage, however, drops to 56 per cent.

"When dirty air blankets our cities the most vulnerable urban populations - the youngest, oldest and poorest - are the most impacted," he added

The database now engulfs 3,000 cities in 103 countries with a record which spanned from 2008 to 2013, which has proclaimed the city of Zabol in Iran as having the highest annual mean concentration of particular matter of fewer than 2.5 microns in diameter, according to The Globe and Mail.

However, New Delhi, in India which in the past dominated the registry has now fortunately moved back to No. 11. as more city dwellers have urged their government to measure air pollution and are more aware now of the associated influence of the latter to one's well-being.

Maria Neira, WHO Director, Department of Public Health, Environmental and Social Determinants of Health expounded that, "Urban air pollution continues to rise at an alarming rate, wreaking havoc on human health. At the same time, awareness is rising and more cities are monitoring their air quality. When air quality improves, global respiratory and cardiovascular-related illnesses decrease."

Ambient air pollution, made of high concentrations of small and fine particulate matter, is the greatest environmental risk to health - causing more than three million premature deaths worldwide every year, the study explained.