Russia, China and India are leaders in polluted sites

Russia, China and India are leading in the worst polluted sites. According to a independent environment group report, four of the world’s 10 most polluted places are in Russia and two former Soviet republics.

New York-based Blacksmith Institute said, Encompassing seven countries, the top 10 sites may cause some 12 million people to suffer health problems ranging from asthma and other respiratory ailments to birth defects and premature death.

China and India each has two sites in the top 10. Linfen, China, is in Shanxi Province, the heart of country’s expanding coal industry, while Tianying is one of the country’s largest lead production bases. In Tianying, residents, particularly children, suffer lead poisoning symptoms such as learning disabilities, brain damage and kidney malfunction.

According to report, Concern about polluted places is growing as the world’s population swells and people in developing countries like China and India buy more cars and electronics — habits that had been limited mainly to rich countries like the United States.

Nazariya health desk (with agency reports)