World's Most Polluted Places

TIME Magazine has a list and feature article about the world's most polluted places. Linfen, China, in the middle of China's coal industry, is the most polluted place according to the list. It is no surprise that developing countries and those recovering second world states like Russia dominate the list. Only developed, first world countries can afford the economic cost of reducing pollution output and environment clean up efforts.

The World Bank has their own list in a report (PDF). In the World Bank's report sixteen of the top twenty polluted cities are in the People's Republic of China. China, which can afford better environmental controls has decided to invest instead in rapid growth at the cost of their environment.

Meanwhile, the Blacksmith Institute released their own report which lists the People's Republic of China and the former Soviet Union have the most polluted sites. Communism's lack of environmental programs and the collapse of industrial controls lead to the former Soviet Union's waste products seeping into the environment.

Reading these reports makes one feel alot better about one's own local environment. Sure, the local and regional environment can and should be improved but we should be very thankful for what we have.