According to data monitored by IQAir, four of the world's five cities with the worst air conditions are in North America, including New York, and this bleak distinction is exacerbated by wildfires raging across Canada that have spread smoke-laden air across the continent, CNBC reports.

Currently, New York ranks second in the world with an air quality index of 162, second only to Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia.

Canada’s Toronto and Montreal rank third and fourth, respectively, with AQI scores of 155 and 153, correspondingly.

An AQI reading above 150 is considered unhealthy air.

And the fifth most polluted city in the world is the US capital, Washington, D.C., with an AQI of 122. Air quality there is slightly better than the aforesaid top three North American cities on the list. Washington's air is considered harmful to sensitive groups.