10 Worst Places For Your Health | Healthy Living slideshows | Well Being center

Grey skies in Linfen, China

According to the World Bank, more than half of the most polluted cities in the world are located in China. Linfen, a city part of the Shanxi province, used to be a green, full of life place, with agriculture as its main activity. However, as coal-mining industry grew, it became one of the most polluted places in the whole world. The air in Linfen is full with contaminants, such as ash, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, arsenic and lead, among others, affecting the lifestyle of 3,000,000 people. Air pollution promotes health problems in the population, including bronchitis, pneumonia and lung cancer. Some programs have been initiated to reduce air pollution, including the use of greener energies and the closure of illegal refineries.

Sources & Links

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Photo courtesy of 张韡武 by Wikimedia Commons : en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Shanxin_Linfen_sign.jpg
www.livescience.com/4226-world-10-polluted-places.html
http://www.abc.net.au/environment/articles/2012/07/23/3549975.htm
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/09/photogalleries/pollution-pictures/photo2.html
http://list25.com/the-25-most-polluted-places-on-earth/
http://opishposh.com/most-polluted-cities-in-the-world/
http://www.worstpolluted.org/projects_reports/display/22
http://travel.cnn.com/explorations/play/first-class-ticket-most-polluted-city-world-047223

Poisoned air in La Oroya, Peru

Air pollution is also a problem in the other side of the world. The town of La Oroya, in Peru, is also categorized as one of the most polluted places on Earth. This town’s main economical activity is lead mining, activity that has definitely affected not only the environment, but also the health and lives of its inhabitants. Lead, cadmium and arsenic are the main pollutants present in La Oroya’s air as a result of the emissions of a local poly-metallic smelter. Around 30,000 people are affected by lead poisoning, especially children. Since 1997, the problem has gotten worst because not only the air has been polluted but also the water and soil.

Sources & Links

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Photo courtesy of Darío Torres by Flickr : www.flickr.com/photos/dariotorres/3691304394/
www.oxfamamerica.org/articles/la-oroya-peru-poisoned-town
http://www.blacksmithinstitute.org/projects/display/36

Chemical waste in Dzerzhinsk, Russia

One of the main issues that concern governments nowadays is the production and use of chemical weapons. During the Cold War, Dzerzinsk in Russia, was one of the most important producers of chemical weapons and is still nowadays, one of the main chemical manufacturing centers. Since this is the main activity in this city, 300,000 people are affected by the presence of chemical products in the environment, including Sarin, VX gas and other substances. Drinking water in this place is full with chemical contaminants and has affected people to the extent of reducing their life expectancy to 42 years for men and 47 years for women.

Sources & Links

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Photo courtesy of Mark Ivey by Flickr : www.flickr.com/photos/zovirl/21792533/
www.worstpolluted.org/projects_reports/display/42

Lead pollution in Kabwe, Zambia

Kabwe has been denominated the fourth most polluted place in the world. It is located in Zambia, and is the second largest city of this country. Pollution was mainly caused by the lead and zinc mining industry. Before 1994, the mining and smelting industry was the main activity, which exposed population to toxic lead concentrations. Even when the smelter and mine were closed in 1994, lead presence in air, soil and water has affected around 255,000 Zambians. Just so you get an idea of the magnitude of the problem, lead concentrations in children’s blood is 5 to 10 times the permissible.

Sources & Links

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Photo courtesy of DON PUGH by Flickr : www.flickr.com/photos/donpugh/5990498358/
www.worstpolluted.org/projects_reports/display/45
http://www.irinnews.org/report/61521/zambia-kabwe-africa-s-most-toxic-city

Nuclear disaster in Chernobyl, Ukraine

The Chernobyl nuclear accident is probably one of the most known disasters that have happened in the history of the World. In 1986, the nuclear reactor located in Chernobyl exploded, releasing radioactive material into the environment. Many people died, got sick or had to be relocated because of the accident, and consequences are still seen nowadays. The area that surrounds the former Chernobyl plant was severely damaged by radiation, and even though wildlife exists, it won’t be habitable by humans for at least 20,000 years. Health problems related to the exposure to radioactive material are the major issue, especially thyroid cancer, which is caused by the accumulation of radioactive material in the thyroid gland.

Sources & Links

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Photo courtesy of Giles Thomas by Flickr : www.flickr.com/photos/jacobsroom/4986793260/
www.world-nuclear.org/info/Safety-and-Security/Safety-of-Plants/Chernobyl-Accident/
http://www.livescience.com/39961-chernobyl.html

Toxic water in Vapi, India

Industrial development also has its disadvantages; a good example of this is the town of Vapi, situated in the state of Gujarat, in India. Factories situated in this place manufacture pesticides, fertilizers, petrochemicals, dyes and paints. Vapi authorities do not regulate disposal of industrial waste, which is mainly composed by heavy metals and cyanide. Water pollution is unbearable, and is the cause of severe health problems, such as respiratory diseases, cancer, birth defects and infertility. Many efforts have been done to reduce pollution levels in Vapi, however water and soil pollution is still a major concern.

Sources & Links

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Photo courtesy of nitesh sule by Flickr : www.flickr.com/photos/nframes/3738019284/
news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/09/photogalleries/pollution-pictures/photo8.html
http://content.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1661031_1661028_1661019,00.html
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-vapi-returns-to-top-is-again-most-polluted-in-india-1692145

Hazardous waste in Sumgayit, Azerbaijan

Factories that manufactured chemicals during the Soviet era are the ones to blame for the high pollution levels in Sumgayit, Azerbaijan. As you can imagine, disposal of hazardous residues wasn’t controlled and they ended mainly in the air and water of the city. Very severe health issues arose from this situation, including a high cancer morbidity and mortality in the population. Also, there is a concerning number of premature births, and babies with genetic defects, such as anencephaly, cleft palate, down syndrome, among others. Nowadays, a few of these factories remain active and the government and NGO’s are working to shut them down and introduce an environmental plan to reduce pollution levels.

Sources & Links

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Photo courtesy of BBC World Service by Flickr : www.flickr.com/photos/bbcworldservice/5471554996/
www.worstpolluted.org/projects_reports/display/27
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=worlds-top-10-most-polluted-places

Chromium in the water in Sukinda, India

Chromite mining is the main activity performed by inhabitants of Sukinda, in India. It is the source of 97% of chromite ore in the country, and one of the main ones in the whole world. Mining and smelting activities have affected the environment and the health of the population. Mining waste is disposed into the affluent of the Brahmani River, which is the only water source in this place. According to certain world organizations, the levels of chromium present in water are more than double of the international standards. People not only uses but drinks this water, situation that has caused an increase in population health problems, like gastrointestinal bleeding, asthma and tuberculosis. Birth defects, stillbirths and infertility are also very common disorders in this region.

Sources & Links

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Photo courtesy of Surat Lozowick by Flickr : www.flickr.com/photos/suratlozowick/2202901710/
www.worstpolluted.org/projects_reports/display/36
http://infochangeindia.org/environment/features/sukinda-top-of-the-dirty-thirty-heap.html

Black snow in Norilsk, Russia

Black snow, a smell of sulphur in the air and grey skies is a characteristic feature of the Siberian city of Norilsk. During the soviet era, the mining and smelting industry arose in Norilsk, and the city is still considered one of the main producers of nickel and other non-ferrous metals. Lack of environmental control led the city to become one of the most polluted cities in Russia, with a toxic concentration of heavy metals particles in the air, including copper and nickel. The most affected by this situation are the children, who suffer mainly from respiratory diseases. Norilsk Nickel, the main mining company has worked in reducing the concentrations of pollutants that are released into the air, however, the morbidity and mortality rate are still very high.

Sources & Links

Important notification about information and brand names used in this slideshow!
Photo courtesy of Stanislav Lvovsky by Flickr : www.flickr.com/photos/lvovsky/2417265140/
www.worstpolluted.org/projects_reports/display/43
http://www.worstpolluted.org/files/FileUpload/files/2013/Norilsk.pdf

The most polluted city: Ahwaz, Iran

Ahwaz is the most polluted city on Earth, according to data collected by the World Health Organization in 2011. Toxic emissions of petrochemical, oil, metals, paper and sugar industries, as well as governmental programs of river diversion, have polluted the air and caused desertification to the extent of considering this to be an irreversible ecological problem. As a result, many species are in the border of extension and agricultural and fishing activities are no longer viable. Neurological and respiratory diseases, as well as cancer and birth defects, are the main health issues affecting Ahwaz population. The government fully supports the river diversion programs and nothing else has been done to stop this pollution problem.