- A new study has uncovered which of the most searched-for city breaks in Europe and the U.S. have the worst air quality
- Paris takes the top spot, having the worst air quality score and the most searches for city breaks
- Chicago takes second place while Benidorm takes third with 101,775 average monthly city break searches, despite its poor air quality score
- Experts reveal how pollution can affect your health and how those visiting cities can protect themselves
A new study has revealed which popular U.S. and European city breaks can damage your health.
Experts at QR Code Generator analysed global Google search data over the past 12 months to discover which U.S. and European city breaks are the most sought-after for a vacation; the air quality scores for each location were then sourced.
The worse a city’s air quality, the higher its score; therefore, the city breaks with over 100,000 average monthly searches and the highest air quality scores determined the ranking.
| Rank | City | Average Monthly Search Volume per 100k population | Air Quality Score |
| 1 | Paris | 185,633 | 66 |
| 2 | Chicago | 130,968 | 58 |
| 3 | Benidorm | 101,775 | 57 |
| 4 | Barcelona | 114,431 | 56 |
| 5 | Amsterdam | 202,893 | 55 |
| 6 | Dallas | 114,778 | 52 |
| 7 | Atlanta | 114,561 | 51 |
| 8 | New Orleans | 124,521 | 48 |
| 9 | Rome | 243,513 | 42 |
| 10 | Nashville | 100,578 | 34 |
Paris takes the top spot, with an air quality score of 66. The French capital received 185,633 average monthly searches for city breaks despite commuter traffic causing extreme pollution levels in the area.
In second place is Chicago, scoring 58 for its air quality. Chicago O’Hare International Airport is one of the busiest in the U.S., which contributes to the damaging pollution in the city. However, the city remains attractive to visitors as it garnered 130,968 average monthly searches.
Benidorm is third, with an air quality score of 57. The Spanish destination is another city plagued by traffic pollution, but this did not deter tourists who generated 101,775 average monthly searches for Benidorm breaks.
Fourth is Barcelona, scoring 56 for its air quality. Traffic in the Spanish city has caused poor air quality, but Barcelona still received 114,431 average monthly searches for city breaks.
At number five is Amsterdam, with an air quality score of 55. 202,893 average monthly searches were made for city breaks in Amsterdam, despite the area’s traffic and international shipping industry causing hazardous air quality.
Sixth is Dallas, scoring 52 for its air quality. The city’s score can be attributed to transport and industry pollution, but regardless of this, Dallas witnessed 114,778 average monthly city break searches.
Atlanta is seventh, with an air quality score of 51. Atlanta’s Hartsfield Jackson airport is the busiest in the world in terms of passenger traffic, which causes high pollution levels in the city. Nevertheless, Georgia’s capital saw 114,561 average monthly searches for city breaks.
In eighth place is New Orleans, scoring 48 for its air quality. 124,521 average monthly searches were made for city breaks in New Orleans, but industries in the area have reportedly exposed residents and visitors to high pollution levels.
At number nine is Rome, with an air quality score of 42. The Italian destination received 243,513 average monthly searches, making it the most searched-for city in the ranking despite its high traffic pollution.
Tenth is Nashville, scoring 34 for its air quality. The capital of country music generated 100,578 average monthly searches, but the city’s high natural gas emissions are reportedly damaging.
Marc Porcar, CEO of QR Code Generator, commented on the findings: “It is concerning to see such high pollution levels in popular holiday spots. Poor air quality can be harmful to children and those with asthma, and exposure to pollution can also increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and respiratory illness for everyone.
“We believe it is essential for people traveling to or living in highly polluted cities to protect themselves. We recommend wearing masks, reducing outdoor exercise, and investing in a portable air purifier.”
“There is promise for the future, as many cities are implementing low emission zones to tackle pollution. For example, by 2030, only electric or hydrogen fuel cars will be permitted to enter Paris, which was the first city in France to introduce the concept.
Hopefully, we will see similar developments in all of the cities in the ranking, so that people can continue enjoying them safely for travel purposes.”
This information has been provided by QR Code Generator, QR code, and V-Card generator for business and marketing.