10 most polluted places on the planet

An environmental group called the US-based Blacksmith Institute yesterday announced the 10 most contaminated map of the planet.

Many people must live with lead in Kabwe, Zambia (Photo: TTO)

Accordingly, Russia alone has 3 ' hot ' points, the rest are spread evenly in countries: China, India, Dominican Republic, Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine, Zambia, Peru. Heavy metals, such as lead, are a major source of pollution, with 10 million people affected.

Blacksmith surveyed scientists and environmental organizations around the world to make this list and is launching environmental cleanup projects in contaminated areas. They focus more on locations where many people are affected by pollution.

Chernobyl, the site of the most known nuclear disaster in recent years, is also on the list. However, the remaining unpopular places include: Dzerzhinsk in Russia - a cold war chemical weapons site; Linfen - ' heart ' of the Chinese coal industry; Kabwe in Zambia - metal mining and metallurgy site, including lead; Haina in the Dominican Republic - a place to recycle and melt batteries, causing lead poisoning to local people; Ranipet in India - where more than 3 million people are affected by waste from tanneries .

Studies by UN agencies say about 20% of premature deaths worldwide are due to environmental factors.

Map of the 10 most polluted places on the planet

WALL VY