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Despite decades of campaigning and policy change, air pollution is still worsening for more than half the world’s population. You might not notice the worsening effect in your daily, hometown life. But when you travel, the sight of industrial smog has a sobering effect.

As part of their mission to draw attention to the quality of the air you breathe, HouseFresh wanted to show you how 10 famous views could look if local human-made air pollution levels increase. The team found iconic photos of the views and, on each one, emulated the visual effect that air pollution has on the skyline of Ghaziabad, India, frequently ranked as the “most polluted city worldwide.”

More info: housefresh.com

#1

Rockefeller Center (New York, USA)

Rockefeller Center (New York, USA)

HouseFresh Report

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Cuervo
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Common on Bored Panda... at least change the headline to say depiction of cities ruined by pollution.

Anonymous
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

ok, don't downvote this but everyone just thinks New York has such terrible air pollution. The air pollution is not too bad at all. Whenever I go it's mostly clear skies. Btw DO NOT go to NY in the summer. The smell is horrific

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HouseFresh curated a list of the most beautiful city views around the world, pulling examples from articles from Insider, RTE, and The Times. According to them, “when the first 2020 lockdown struck, a bonus was the drop in air pollution. The view through our windows seemed freshly polished. Tourist attractions shone with an intensity unseen for decades. Environmentalists keenly told us that this was a wake-up call, not a turning point”. However, this was only temporary.

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    #2

    Montparnasse Tower (Paris, France)

    Montparnasse Tower (Paris, France)

    HouseFresh Report

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    Madeleine Flowers
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    EVERYONE! BEFORE YOU GO THROUGH THIS POST, THESE PHOTOS ARE NOT REAL! IT SAYS IN THE DESCRIPTION THAT THIS IS JUST A MODEL OF WHAT FAMOUS LANDMARKS WOULD LOOK LIKE IF THEY HAD THE SAME AMOUNT OF POLLUTION AS GHAZIABAD, INDIA! THIS IS NOT A PRANK! IT SAYS WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE DESCRIPTION!

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    The pictures show how the views in each city might look if pollution levels reached that of Ghaziabad, India, the second most polluted city in the world. The most polluted city in the world is Hotan, China, which reports air pollution predominantly as a result of desert dust storms rather than man-made pollution, which is why the ream chose the second-most polluted city.

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    If you’re wondering how you could help in the fight against air pollution, there are a few simple ways that are adaptable to our everyday lives. You should reduce the number of trips using a car as well as the times you use a fireplace or woodstove. Also, avoid burning leaves, trash, and other materials, and using gas-powered lawn and garden equipment.

    #4

    Christ The Redeemer (Rio De Janeiro, Brazil)

    Christ The Redeemer (Rio De Janeiro, Brazil)

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    If you’re interested in learning more about the quarantine pollution drop, you can check out this post that includes 11 before-and-after comparisons showing the positive effect of the quarantine and how it was reducing pollution.

    #5

    The Shard (London, UK)

    The Shard (London, UK)

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    #6

    Mrs. Macquarie’s Point (Australia)

    Mrs. Macquarie’s Point (Australia)

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    #7

    St. Peter’s Basilica (Rome/Vatican City, Italy)

    St. Peter’s Basilica (Rome/Vatican City, Italy)

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    #8

    Centre Island (Toronto, Canada)

    Centre Island (Toronto, Canada)

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    #9

    Tokyo Skytree (Japan)

    Tokyo Skytree (Japan)

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    #10

    Victoria Peak (Hong Kong)

    Victoria Peak (Hong Kong)

    HouseFresh Report

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