The 2007 Worldwide Quality of Living Survey by Mercer Human Resource Consulting places Helsinki in third place among cities in the world in terms of health and sanitation. Helsinki is the only European city in the top five, while the other four are all in North America. Scores are based on the quality and availability of hospital and medical supplies, levels of air pollution and infectious diseases, the efficiency of waste removal and sewage systems, water potability, and the presence of harmful animals and insects. Mercer?s ranking for overall quality of living places Zurich in first place, followed by Geneva, Vancouver and Vienna. Helsinki?s quality of living rank is 30, among 215 cities worldwide surveyed. The lowest ranking city is Baghdad. Helsinki News 3/07 (.pdf)
