10 Most Polluted Places in the World

pe The Most Polluted Places in the World Power & Energy Norilsk, Russia - Contains world's largest heavy metal smelting complex - 2million tons of sulphur dioxide is released into the air annually - Life expectancy for factory workers is 10 years less than Russian average Dzerzhinsk, Russia 5 million - 300,000 tons of chemical waste was disposed here between 1930 and 1998 - In certain places the water has levels Chernobyl, Ukraine people are poisoned everyday in the developing world - Location of the world's worst nuclear disaster -20 years after the disaster the exclusion zone still remains uninhabitable - 5 million people inhabit the affected area around Chernobyl of dioxins 17 million times higher than - 15.8% of deaths among children are caused by respiratory diseases what is deemed safe - In 2003 the death rate exceeded birth rate by 260% Average life expectancy for men is 42 - Infertility and birth defects remains high Sumgayit, Azerbaijan - 250,000 potentially affected - 40 factories manufacturing chemicals - 120,000 tons of harmful emissions - Cancer rates 51% higher than average Linfen, China - 3 million affected - Provides 2/3 of nation's coal energy -Worst air quality in China, pollutants include arsenic and sulphur dioxide - High rates of lead poisoning in children 25% of all deaths in the developing world are attributable to environmental factors La Oroya, Peru - Population of 35,000 and a poly- metallic smelter. - 99% have blood lead levels exceeding acceptable limits - Very high rates of premature deaths - Vegetation destroyed by acid rain 10 Tianying, China Kabwe, Zambia Sukinda, India - 140,000 affected Water - Largest lead production base in China - Lead concentrations are 10x higher than national health standards - 85% of air samples have lead concentrations - Contains 97% of India's chromite ore - Mining and smelting of zinc and lead began in 1902 and ran until 1994 - Most workers and residents of the area pollution causes - 30 million tons of waste rock Vapi, India - 60% of drinking water contains twice 14,000 -400 km belt of industrial estates the national standard of hexavalent have been exposed to toxic levels of lead due to a waterway running from the mine to town and the inhalation of - Waste products include heavy metals, cyanides, pesticides and other toxins - Mercury in the groundwater is 96 times higher than WHO standards - Very high incidences of respiratory diseases and numerous cancers chromium deaths a day - 2.6 million potentially affected dust - In many cases children's blood lead levels are regarded as potentially fatal Source: WorstPolluted.org, MSN News