http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6995621.stm
A list of the world's most polluted places has been published by a US-
based independent environmental group.
The Blacksmith Institute's top 10 towns and cities included sites in
ex-Soviet republics, Russia, China and India. Peru and Zambia were
also listed.
The report said an estimated 12 million people were affected by the
severe pollution, which was mainly caused by chemical, metal and
mining industries.
Chronic illness and premature deaths were listed as possible side-
effects.
The annual review, which debuted in 2006, is listed alphabetically,
and the sites are unranked "given the wide range of location sizes,
populations and pollution dynamics".
WORST POLLUTED
Sumgayit, Azerbaijan; Potentially 275,000 affected
Linfen, China; Potentially 3m affected
Tianying, China; Potentially 140,000 affected
Sukinda, India; Potentially 2.6m affected
Vapi, India; Potentially 71,000 affected
La Oroya, Peru; Potentially 35,000 affected
Dzerzhinsk, Russia; Potentially 300,000 affected
Norilsk, Russia; Potentially 134,000 affected
Chernobyl, Ukraine; Potentially 5.5m affected
Kabwe, Zambia; Potentially 255,000 affected
Data: Blacksmith Institute
Among the new sites listed in 2007 were Tianying in China, where
potentially 140,000 people were at risk from lead poisoning from a
massive lead production base there.
The report also said that in the Indian town of Sukinda there were 12
mines operating without environmental controls, leaching dangerous
chemicals into water supplies.
Sumgayit in Azerbaijan was also included in the report, which said the
former Soviet industrial base was polluting the area with industrial
chemicals and heavy metals.
According to the report, cancer rates in Sumgayit were as much as 51%
higher than the national average and that genetic mutations and birth
defects were commonplace.
The Blacksmith Institute's director, Richard Fuller, said: "The fact
of the matter is that children are sick and dying in these polluted
places, and it's not rocket science to fix them.
"This year, there has been more focus on pollution in the media, but
there has been little action in terms of new funding or programmes. We
all need to step up to the plate and get moving," he said.
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