This report from the Blacksmith Institute identifies the top 10 most polluted sites in the world. I was not surprised to see Chernobyl on the list but I have to confess that most of the rest I had never heard of.
Leaving Chernobyl the other nine sites identified were :
DZERZINSK, RUSSIA - Chemicals and toxic byproducts from Cold War-era chemical weapons manufacturing, including Sarin, VX gas, lewisite - the poisonous effect of which is owed to its arsenic trioxide content, yperite (mustard gas), prussic acid, phosgene, dioxins and other persistent organic chemicals. Lead, from an additives manufacturer, now closed.
HAINA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC - Lead.
KABWE, ZAMBIA - Lead, cadmium
LA OROYA, PERU - Lead, copper, zinc, and sulfur dioxide.
LINFEN, SHANXI PROVINCE, CHINA - Fly-ash, carbon monoxide, Nitrogen oxides, PM-2.5, PM-10, Sulfur dioxide, volatile organic compounds, arsenic, lead
MAILUU-SUU, KYRGYZSTAN - Radioactive uranium mine tailings. Gamma radiation from the dumps measures in between 100-600 micro-roentgens per hour. Heavy metals, and cyanides.
NORILSK, RUSSIA - Air pollution - particulates including Strontium-90, Caesium-137, Sulfur dioxide, heavy metals (nickel, copper, cobalt, lead, selenium), particulates, nitrogen and carbon oxides, phenols, hydrogen sulfide.
RUDNAYA PRISTAN/DALNEGORSK, RUSSIA - Lead, cadmium, mercury, antimony
RANIPET, INDIA - Chemicals
The full report (without images) can be found here
The full report (with images about 12mb) can be found here
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