World's Most Polluted Places for 2007 Listed

The Blacksmith Institute recently released its 2007 list of the Top 10 World's Most Polluted Places. The unranked list referenced several localities in China, Russia and India as well as some former Soviet Republics, Peru and Zambia.

The severity of pollution indicated in these areas involve environmental contamination due to chemical, mining, energy and heavy-metal industries. Notable among those listed is Chernobyl in the Ukraine which is still suffering from the 1986 catastrophic meltdown of its nuclear power plant.

The Blacksmith Institute report also highlights the impact of environmental pollution to health. Some 12 million people in these identified communities are said to be at risk for cancers, birth defects, sterility and poisoning among others.

Here is the list dubbed as the "Killer Communities" for 2007:

• Sumgayit, AZERBAIJAN
• Linfen, CHINA
• Tianying, CHINA
• Sukinda, INDIA
• Vapi, INDIA
• La Oroya, PERU
• Dzerzhinsk, RUSSIA
• Norilsk, RUSSIA
• Chernobyl, UKRAINE
  
• Kabwe, ZAMBIA
  

Eight years in the running, the Blacksmith Institute have been supporting local champions that address pollution-related issues in developing nations. In 2003, the Blacksmith Institute came out with the Polluted Places Initiative which focuses on seeking solutions for severely polluted sites. The top 10 World's Most Polluted Places list began in 2006. The list is selected by a panel of environment and health experts comprising the Technical Advisory Board (TAB).

To date, 24 projects have been successfully completed in 9 countries through the US-based institute's various programs. More on The Blacksmith Institute at their official website at www.blacksmithinstitute.org.