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Travel at your own risk: Seven of the world’s most polluted cities

world's most polluted cities

Several places around the world are filled with smoke and pollutants. Due to being overly populated and highly polluted, these places have higher than global average rates of people catching lung and heart diseases. While the air is so polluted at some locations because of higher rates of industrialization, it is because of harmful activities of residents at some other locations. Whatever the reasons are, it is difficult to breathe in the air at these places, as you know that it is constantly harming your health. Therefore, if you are a frequent traveler to such places or cities, your health is your own responsibility.

Therefore, if you are unaware of these polluted locations and planning to travel, you may check out the following list to verify whether the listed place is on your itinerary. You may like to strike it out, if so – and, for a very solid reason!

Linfen, China: This is possibly the most polluted city in the world as around three million people are affected by the problem of pollution in Linfen. A part of the Shanxi province, this city has the country’s coal belt located here. You cannot escape the smell of burning coal if you are in Linfen. All this is highly attributable to several legal and illegal coalmines in the surrounding hills. Even your wet clothes will turn black before you get them dried. The State Environmental Protection Agency has declared this city as having the worst air in the country. So, you now know that Linfen needs to be avoided during your travel, except for the reason that you are going to witness these coal mines at your risk.

Sukinda, India: This city can also be highly ranked when talking about the most polluted places in the world. This is because of the excessive chrome and heavy metal mining and processing activities going on in this city. This city fulfils about 97 percent of the country’s chromium requirements. Thus while meeting this need, there is mining waste generated in huge amounts, which is close to a pile of 30 million tons. Won’t that make mountains? The water sources near this city are also heavily polluted and have large quantities of hexavalent chromium in them. Alarmingly, nearly 2.6 million people are suffering from different types of cancer due to exposure to soil, air and waters near the city mines!

La Oroya, Peru: The city of La Oroya has numerous metal mines and processing plants that spit out huge amounts of lead. Even though people know about the killing effects of lead, this city has 99 out of every 100 children who have unacceptable lead levels in their bodies. The average lead level of city residents is estimated to be thrice the established limit of World Health Organization. In spite of this situation, there are no waste cleanup plans for this city.

Dzerzhinsk, Russia: The city of Dzerzhinsk is the dumping ground for chemical wastes. Between 1930 and 1998, there was 300,000-ton chemical waste dumped in this city. In fact, the place holds a Guinness record for being the most polluted city in the world due to chemical contamination. This has supposedly affected the life expectancy of its residents. The average age at which men die is 42 years, while it is 47 years in case of women. So if you want to live longer, avoid planning a stay here.

Chernobyl, Ukraine: The nuclear power plant’s meltdown has made the city of Chernobyl inhabitable. There is a 19-mile zone around the plant that has been totally excluded for inhabiting. Despite strict measures taken to control the plant’s radiation spills, more than 3,000 kids in the fallout area have been suffering from thyroid cancer. Do you think it is the right place to visit?

Norilsk, Russia: An estimated four million tons of harmful elements are released in this city’s air every year. These dangerous elements include lead, arsenic, zinc, copper, nickel, cadmium and selenium. This is because Norilsk has the world’s biggest heavy metal smelting complex. There are innumerable residents of the city suffering from respiratory diseases. Up to a large surrounding distance from the smelting complex, you would not be able to find even a single tree. That only explains the situation of toxicity within this city. Now see if you want to put your health at stake by visiting this city.

Sumgayit, Azerbaijan: There is total negligence of natural resources even in this city of Sumgayit where there is no authority to take responsibility of the toxic emissions of 120,000 tons. Though there are several factories that are not in operation now, their pre-closing emissions still pollute the city. You can now imagine who would take the responsibility of the health of visitors coming to this place!

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