Pollution is a huge problem for many cities in all over the world. That is a serious threat to the protection of the environment in all developed countries. Everywhere efforts are being made to overcome this problem. Climate changes may be getting a lot of attention, but the greatest risk for the health of people does not come from global pollution. The biggest problem is industrial pollution that often occurs in poor cities where factories and power plants don’t have limitation regarding getting rid of the waste.
The Blacksmith Institute, an international non-for-profit organization dedicated to eliminating life-threatening pollution in the developing world, issues an annual list of some of the world’s worst polluted places. In the 2007 issues the ten top nominees, already industrialized countries excluded, are located in Azerbaijan, China, India, Peru, Russia, Ukraine and Zambia.
10NORILSK – RUSSIA
Every year 2 million tons of sulfur dioxide are released into the atmosphere. This air pollution means trees do not grow within 30 km of the city.
09CITARUM RIVER - INDONESIA
Due to industry, lead levels are over 1.000 higher than U.S. standards. 3.5 billion dollar is being spent on cleaning the river, which is used for drinking and irrigation.
08NIGER DELTA – NIGER
Some 240.000 barrels of oil are spilled here every year. It could impact crops and cause a 24% increase in child malnutrition.
07HAZARIBAGH – BANGLADESH
Tanneries dump 22.000 cubic liters of toxic waste each day, including cancer-causing toxins. The 185.000 locals face the risk of acid burns and skin disease.
06KALIMANTAN – INDONESIA
Over 1.000 metric tons of mercury enter the environment each due to gold mining. This brain poison accumulates in water and fish.
05MATANZA-RAICHUELO – ARGENTINA
15.000 small industries contaminate water with metal waste. 60% of 20.000 residents live in areas unsuitable for habitation, causing illnesses like cancer.
04AGBOGBOSHIE – GHANA
Locals burn e-waste like cell phones and laptops to get valuable metals within. Workers have blood levels of heavy metals 17 x higher than global standards.
03CHERNOBYL – UKRAINE
A nuclear meltdown in 1986 released 100x the radioactivity of the atomic bombs dropped in WW2 150.000 sq km has been contaminated with radioactive isotopes.
02KABOWE – ZAMBIA
Unregulated lead mining has caused health problems for 300.000. Lead blood concentrations are 60% higher than the level normally considered fatal.
01DZERSHINSK – RUSSIA
Average life expectancy is 44.5 year for the 245.000 locals. 300.000 tons of chemical wasted were improperly buried here between 1930 and 1998.
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