World's most polluted cities

Given all that we hear (even from Chinese officials, occasionally) about China's heading to an environmental disaster & catastrophe due to its scant respect for the environment as its industry grows ferociously, it is not a wonder that couple Chinese cities are in Time magazine's list of The World's 10 Most Polluted Cities.

But as the report says, if India's environment is on the whole healthier than its giant neighbor China's, that's because India is developing much more slowly.

Two Indian cities (see below) make the list along with two Chinese cities, a few cities in ex-Soviet bloc countries, and one in Peru. However, it is not far-fetched to imagine a list of the to-10 most polluted cities with Indian and Chinese cities in a few years, with a token entry from Russia.

Sukinda, which has one of the largest open cast chromite ore mines in the world, 60% of the drinking water contains hexavalent chromium at levels more than double international standards.

and

in Vapi, the levels of mercury in the city's groundwater are reportedly 96 times higher than WHO safety levels, and heavy metals are present in the air and the local produce.

Link to Time magazine article via a post at India Uncut.