16th September, 2007

Russia and two former Soviet republics - Ukraine and Azerbaijan - are home to four of the world’s 10 most polluted places, according to a report from New York-based environmental group, the Blacksmith Institute.

Other places in the group’s top 10 are located in China and India - both home to two places - as well as Zambia and Peru.

The annual report - first issued last year - says that an estimated 12 million people were affected by the severe pollution at the locations, caused mainly by the chemical, metal and mining industries. The top 10 were not ranked but listed alphabetically.

The sites include Chernobyl in the Ukraine - site of the world’s worst nuclear disaster in 1986, Tianjin in China - one of the country’s largest lead production bases, Sukinda in India where there are 12 mines operating without environmental controls and Sumgayit in Azerbaijan where pollution is caused by industrial chemicals and heavy metals.

Institute director Richard Fuller called for more action in addressing the pollution.

"The fact of the matter is that children are sick and dying in these polluted places, and it's not rocket science to fix them,” he said.

~ www.worstpolluted.com

- DAVID ADAMS