Penza, 5 February 2013. PenzaNews. Penza took 70th place in the list of 100 most polluted cities in Russia with population of 100 thousand people or more according to the state report on the state and protection of environment in the country of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Russia.

A document describing ecological situation in Russia in 2011 was published on Monday, February 4.

According to the report, air pollution index (API) in Penza amounted to 8,6.

“At the top of the list is Novorossiysk, where pollution index equals 36. The three most polluted cities in the country also include Bratsk and Krasnoyarsk, where pollution index is 28 and 23,8, respectively,” the press service of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment told news agency “PenzaNews.”

The Ministry explained that the list of the most polluted cities was based on data provided by the regions.

“To estimate the total level of pollution in the city they used combined air pollution index (API). It is considered higher than average if equals 5–6, and the highest if amounts to 7–13,” the Ministry explained.

It is expected that the information contained in the state report will be used by the government agencies when planning environmental protection program.