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pollutants is discharged by the mines into the river and surround soil. Health problems with the people living and working in this region are reaching acute levels.

Vapi, INDIA - This region of India is home to over 50 industrial complexes and over 1,000 individual plants all engaged in the manufacturing of chemicals. Chemicals for petrochemical products, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, textiles, dyes, fertilizers, leather products, paint, and chlor-alkali. The waste run-off from these numerous plants runs directly into rivers, which are biologically dead. These river also supply most of the water used by many of India's people down river! The people drink this water so full of heavy metals that no fish or other biological life lives in the rivers any longer.

La Oroya, PERU - This Peruvian town in the Andes has been the site of a US owned and operated nonmetallic smelter company for over 50 years. Lead, arsenic and cadmium levels in the children living in this region are dangerously high. Developmental problems in children is rampant, along with chronic lung health issues.

Dzerzinsk, RUSSIA - The city was the home to Soviet chemical weapons manufacturing during the Cold War era. It is still a major center for chemical production such as: sarin, dioxins and lead based chemicals. An interesting reference source, "The Guinness Book of World Records has named Dzerzhinsk the most chemically polluted city in the world." The Blacksmith report for 2007, states that the life expectancy of people still working in this city is "42 years for men and 47 for women."

Norilsk, RUSSIA - This city began in 1935 as a Siberian gulag, and is north of the Arctic Circle. It was closed to visitors beginning November of 2001, with no apparent explanation! Although, this city proves pollution is everywhere, it appears the Soviet leaders would rather not have the media view the black snow that falls in this region. The nickle production and other heavy metal plants have had no environmental safety standards for years and the air pollution is wicked.

Chernobyl, UKRAINE - The nuclear plant meltdown in 1986, left 100 times more radiation than the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Radioactive iodine, plutonium, uranium and strontium have left Chernobyl a modern day exhibit of environmental destruction and human devastation. No more needs to be said.....

Kabwe, ZAMBIA - Last, but not least Kabwe was a lead and zinc mining and smelting center for almost one hundred years (1902-1994). Companies came and exploited the people, the land and the waterways. They made millions and left a billion dollar clean-up. The blood levels of the children, according to the latest testing, by the World Health Organization doctors shows fatal lead levels. Quite a legacy the 'captains' of industry have left the Zambian children.

So you wanted to know the most polluted places in the world?

You can still submit an area to be reviewed by the Blacksmith Institute by going to their website: www.blacksmithinstitute.org

The re is a light of hope for all these places where pollution has consumed the once healthy earth. The Blacksmith Institute not only reports about the pollution conditions worldwide, they also engage with their partners and initiate clean-up efforts at each of these sites. They believe many of these terrible sites of pollution can be cleaned up and many deaths and illnesses avoided, if we wake up and take responsible action. Interevention and prevention of negligent toxic waste dumping and production can be addressed if we believe in a healthy future for our children.

Learn more about this author, Pam Uher.
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