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Which Cities Have the Worst Pollution?

Ken Black
Ken Black

There is no correct answer for which cities have the worst pollution. The lists can be different based on what is considered a pollutant or which pollutants are considered to be worse. Water, ground, and air pollution are all bad, but depending on which ranking one looks at, some may be considered worse than others. Still, some cities in the world tend to make many of the lists. At least in these cases, there is some consensus.

One of those cities is Kabwe, Zambia. This African city known for its lead and copper mines is also known for its pollution. As the mines ran without government environmental regulation for nearly a century, the toll on the local population began to show. Even with the mines no longer in operation, children in and around the city show lead levels five to ten times the amount considered acceptable by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

Kabwe, Zambia is known for pollution.
Kabwe, Zambia is known for pollution.

Another town that is known for contamination is that of Sumgayit, Azerbaijan. It was one of the centers for the production of pesticides and other chemicals during the height of the Soviet Union, but that came with a toll. Hundreds of thousands of tons of chemicals were released into the atmosphere as a result of the production process. Now, cancer rates in the town are one of the highest in the world.

Several cities in China, including the industrial centers Shanghai and Linfen, have extreme air pollution problems.
Several cities in China, including the industrial centers Shanghai and Linfen, have extreme air pollution problems.

While much of the world has heard about the pollution problem in Beijing, China, it is the Chinese city of Linfen that is on nearly every list of most polluted cities, often occupying the number one spot. Clouds of coal dust often settle over the city, making breathing difficult. That may be the least of the worries in Linfen, however, as arsenic in the drinking water may be the worst of the concerns.

Several cities that were once part of the USSR -- including Sumgayit, Azerbaijan, and Norilsk, Russia -- are heavily polluted.
Several cities that were once part of the USSR -- including Sumgayit, Azerbaijan, and Norilsk, Russia -- are heavily polluted.

In addition to being one of the coldest major population centers in the world, Norilsk, Russia, located in Siberia, is also one of the dirtiest. The city has been polluted with heavy metal smelting and mining. In fact, the city is so polluted, it is said there is not a single living tree within 30 miles (48 km). The life expectancy in the town is 10 years below the Russian average.

Mexico City, in central Mexico, is one of the most polluted cities in North America.
Mexico City, in central Mexico, is one of the most polluted cities in North America.

In North America, two of the most polluted cities are Mexico City, Mexico, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. One of Mexico City's biggest problems is simply the amount of people living there. Pittsburgh's air, with the soot and heavy metals, can make for a fair amount of smog.

Discussion Comments

istria

@ GenevaMech- I live in Phoenix too. The water that runs into my complex has a high mineral content, and has many bacteria in it. If you drink the water unfiltered, it can definitely leave you with a horrible stomachache. To combat the bacteria, the city heavily chlorinates the water. At certain times of the month, the water tastes and smells like bleach, while at other times the water smells foul, and is tinged yellow. Lime scale build-up is also very bad. The water pollution and negative health effects can be burdensome to say the least.

GenevaMech

As the article stated, the most polluted cities are all relative to the type of pollutant. Phoenix has a national rating of good for overall air pollution, but the city has water pollution problems. I live in Phoenix, and the canals are polluted. People often dump trash into the canals into the canals, there is a problem with pharmaceutical contaminants, and there is a lot of agricultural runoff. In some parts of the city, the water is not good to drink unless filtered. The pollution of the water in Phoenix is one of the biggest drawbacks to living here.

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    • Kabwe, Zambia is known for pollution.
      By: bogdanserban
      Kabwe, Zambia is known for pollution.
    • Several cities in China, including the industrial centers Shanghai and Linfen, have extreme air pollution problems.
      By: Eric Isselée
      Several cities in China, including the industrial centers Shanghai and Linfen, have extreme air pollution problems.
    • Several cities that were once part of the USSR -- including Sumgayit, Azerbaijan, and Norilsk, Russia -- are heavily polluted.
      By: axellwolf
      Several cities that were once part of the USSR -- including Sumgayit, Azerbaijan, and Norilsk, Russia -- are heavily polluted.
    • Mexico City, in central Mexico, is one of the most polluted cities in North America.
      By: Iryna Volina
      Mexico City, in central Mexico, is one of the most polluted cities in North America.
    • Many industrial cities have air and water pollution problems.
      By: Audrius Reipa
      Many industrial cities have air and water pollution problems.