In both the United States and Western Europe, the effects of pollution on human health have declined dramatically in the last half-century. Widespread industrial pollution persists, however, in many regions of the world. More than a million people still die each year from urban air pollution and lead poisoning, and over 80 percent of all diseases recorded by the World Health Organization are wholly or partially attributable to environmental factors (WHO 2006).

Earlier this month, the Blacksmith Institute's Polluted Places Initiative released an unranked list of the 10 most polluted cities in the world. More than 400 cities were nominated and evaluated for this dubious honor. The winners are not ranked, but are presented below, alphabetically by country.

These ten winners, along with 20 honorable mentions comprise Blacksmith's "Dirty Thirty." More information about the sites along with a map can be found here. The cities are selected based on criteria that include the toxicity and scale of pollution, the level of human exposure, and the number of people affected. Special consideration is given to sites that disproportionately harm children.

In Dzerzhinsk, Russia, toxic groundwater contamination
has reduced the average life expectancy to 42 for men
and 47 for women.

Source: The Blacksmith Institute, 2007.

The Blacksmith Institute uses these rankings to raise awareness about pollution in the developing world and to engage local, national, and international actors to tackle the sources of pollution.

Related Links

World Health Organization: The Urban Environment

U.N. Human Settlements Program City-Level Data and Statistics

EarthTrends Feature: Health, Environment, and Poverty

EarthTrends Searchable Database: Population, Health, and Human Well-Being