While technological advancements have
simplified our lives, their byproducts have also
slowly brought about contamination and
pollution to our environment. Although the
entire world has its fair share of pollution,
there are certain countries that lead the pack.
If you’re thinking of traveling or relocating,
stop and think before you consider these cities;
here is a list of the ten most polluted cities in
the world.

1. Linfen, China

This city located along the banks of the Fen
River is considered the most polluted city in
the world, according to Time Magazine. Its
3,000,000 residents have to wake up to coal
and particulate pollutants every day. The city is
part of China’s coal belt, with the hills around
the district saturated with legal (and illegal)
mines.
Its air is loaded with too much burning coal
that most residents are hospitalized for
respiratory conditions such as black lung,
chronic bronchitis, and asthma. Perhaps the
most definitive proof of excessive coal levels in
the air is the fact that your laundry can turn
black if you hang it outside for even a few
minutes.

2. Tianying, China

Located in northeastern China, Tianying is a
looming industrial city that is polluted with
lead and other heavy metals. Because of its
nomadic technology and poor policies, lead has
managed to seep into its waters and once
fertile soils. Unfortunately, the 140,000 citizens
of one of the most polluted cities in the world,
according to the Globe and Mail , are at risk of
suffering from the long-term health effects of
lead on the brain such as dullness,
forgetfulness, irritability, loss of memory, and
hallucinations.

3. Sukinda, India

Hexavalent chromium is just one of the many
metals that make Sukinda, India one of the
most polluted cities in the world, according to
MSN. As one of the largest opencast chromite
ores mines in the globe, Sukinda waters are
said to contain as much as 60% of hexavalent
chromium. With that being said, such water
pollution makes the 2,600,000 million Sukinda
residents at risk of contracting nose ulcers,
runny nose, and worse, breathing problems like
cough, asthma and wheezing.
Because of the lack of proper regulations,
chromium-related illnesses have resulted to
about 85% of mining-related deaths in the
region.

4. Vapi, India

Home to 71,000 residents, Vapi is one of the
several Indian towns playing home to industrial
states. Unfortunately, the onset of
industrialization has led to the contamination
of the city’s lands and waters with chemicals
and other heavy metals. What’s more alarming
is that Vapi’s groundwater contains mercury
(among many other heavy metals), according
to National Geographic .
Prolonged exposure to mercury can wreak
havoc on one’s health–impairment of
peripheral vision and muscle weakness to
name a few. Add to that, the future of the city
is at risk, as neurological problems are usually
manifested in children born to mothers who
have ingested mercury-laced waters.

5. La Oroya, Peru

As the home of many heavy metal mines and
processing plants, La Oroya, Peru is the
unfortunate recipient of lead, zinc, copper and
sulfur runoffs. Unfortunately, 99% of the
children in the area evince excessive amounts
of lead in their systems–the leading culprit in
their reading problems, learning problems,
hearing loss, and stunted growth. With this
alarming statistics, it looks like there’s no
bright future for the 35,000 denizens of one of
the most polluted cities in the world, especially
now that Global Post says that one American
smelter plant plans to reopen.


6. Dzerzhinsk, Russia

According to the Guinness Book of World
Records, Dzerzhinsk is the most polluted city in
the world in terms of chemical contamination.
The city is one of the victims of the aftermath
of cold war, as more than 300,000 tons of
chemical wastes were dumped in the city from
1930 to 1998. Dioxin and phenol levels in the
water are ridiculously high: they are in fact 19
million times the acceptable limit. Because of
the chemical and toxic pollutants in the city,
the life expectancy for men and women are
very low, at 42 and 47 years respectively.

You talking bout my field man! I agree with TIME on this.

7. Norilsk, Russia

Like China and India, Russia is home to some
of the most polluted cities in the world. One of
them is Norilsk, home to 134,000 residents.
Founded in 1935, the city originally served as a
Siberian labor camp.
After the liberation of the labor camp, it was
transformed as the world’s largest heavy metal
smelting mine. Consequently, four million tons
of zinc, arsenic, cadmium, lead, copper, nickel
and selenium are released to the air every year,
according to worstpolluted.org . Because of the
dangerously high levels of nickel and copper in
the air, many Norilsk residents have
succumbed to respiratory illnesses.

8. Chernobyl, Ukraine

Chernobyl rose to fame in April 26, 1986 when
a nuclear plant meltdown released excessive
amounts of radiation in the air – 100 times
more than the power of Hiroshima and
Nagasaki A-bombs combined. According to
BBC , more than five million residents fled the
city and left the 30-kilometer exclusion zone
deserted.
Due to the radioactive iodine that was released
into the air following the plant meltdown, about
5,000 people living in the area during the time
of the explosion got afflicted with thyroid
cancer.

9. Sumgayit, Azerbaijan

Sumgayit was once a home to numerous
petrochemical and industrial complexes. When
these factories were fully operational, they
have released 120,000 tons of mercury and
other chemical emissions into the air. Although
the plants have shut down, its byproducts –
organic chemicals, oils and other heavy metals
– have continued to pollute the land. They
have caused a barrage of health problems for
the 275,000 people living in the area. These
pollutants utterly make Sumgayit the most
polluted city in Azerbaijan.

10. Kabwe, Zambia

Zambia was a former British colony called
Northern Rhodesia. In 1902, bountiful amounts
of lead were discovered and mined in the city.
Despite the fact that mines and smelters are
no longer actively operating in Kabwe, they
have left enormous amounts of lead and
cadmium residue, making the city one of the
world’s most polluted, according to the
Blacksmith Institute .
In fact, a handful of the 255,000 residents of
Kabwe – most of them children – registered
lead and cadmium levels five to ten times the
normal limit. Because of these heavy metals,
Kabwe residents have been plagued with
numerous health problems like acute
pneumonitis, chest pain, fever, and in severe
cases, pulmonary edema.

While technology and industrialization have
brought about many benefits, the sad truth is
they have taken a toll on our ecosystem and
environment. With the austere fact about these
most polluted cities in the world, we can only
rally for better rules and regulations that can
reverse the hazardous effects of pollution, while
we still can.
http://opishposh.com/most-polluted-cities-in-the-world/

Just one African country on the list? Africa ain't that bad and Asia seems to be the most polluted continent.

Ajpharm: Just one African country on the list? Africa ain't that bad and Asia seems to be the most polluted continent.

yeah. Its very clear. Asia cheats itself. Due to cheaper labour and bad labour laws, industrial processes are much more fast paced and Environmental, Health and safety impact assessments are not considered. Most of the times these industrial firms are located ON marginal land prone to natural disasters . When any (or more) of these factors come into play, you know the rest.

I wouldn't be surprised if I read that Nigerians live and work in those places.

Vessi: I wouldn't be surprised if I read that Nigerians live and work in those places.

lol u know ur 9ja brothers wella

Nadia_SA1: lol u know ur 9ja brothers wella

same way you understand your fellow zulus, chick.

Vessi: same way you understand your fellow zulus, chick.

confam