Top Ten World's Most Polluted Places

Country No. of people potentially affected Type of pollutant Source of pollution
1 Linfen, China 3,000,000 Coal and Particulates Automobile and Industrial Emissions
2 Tianying, China 140,000 Lead and other heavy metals Mining and Processing
3 Sukinda, India 2,600,000 Hexavalent Chromium and other metals Chromite mines and processing
4 Vapi, India 71,000 Chemicals and heavy metals Industrial Estates
5 La Oroya, Peru 35,000 Lead, Copper, Zinc and Sulfur Dioxide Heavy metal mining and processing
6 Dzerzhinsk, Russia 300,000 Chemicals and Toxic byproducts including Sarin and VX gas Cold war-era chemical weapons manufacturing
7 Norlisk, Russia 134,000 Air Pollution particulates, sulfur dioxide heavy metals phenols Major nickel and metal mining processing
8 Chernobyl, Ukraine Initially estimated at 5.5 million - Currently disputed Radiation Nuclear Meltdown
9 Sumgayit, Azerbaijan 275,000 Organic chemicals, oil and heavy metals Petrochemical and industrial complexes
10 Kabwe, Zambia 255,000 Lead and Cadmium Lead mining and processing

Source: www.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1661031_1661028_1661025,00.html