Top 10 Most Toxic Places On Earth

Whether you believe in climate change or not, there is no disputing the fact that the world is in a more precarious place than ever before. Pollution has hit levels never seen before, global temperatures are risings, the ice caps are melting, and extreme weather events are happening more frequently. Changes in the environment are normal as the Earth has gone through various weather cycles over the years, but recent NASA research shows what is happening now is caused by humans. “Scientific evidence for warming of the climate system is unequivocal,” said an Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. If the facts don’t sway you then maybe discovering more about the most toxic places on Earth will change your mind.  The most polluted places on earth are great examples of the damage being done to the environment by humans. These are countries and cities where the negative impact of climate change is on show for all to see. What were once thriving areas of vegetation full of wildlife are now toxic places where people struggle to survive. These places show where the world is heading if we don’t start taking climate change seriously.  Top 10 Most Toxic Places on Earth

1. Agbogbloshie, Ghana Aline Tong/Shutterstock As technology continues to improve at a rapid rate, everyone is clamoring for the latest smartphone or big-screen TV. That means there are a lot of old electronic products that need to be gotten rid of. Sadly there aren’t many ways for electrical items to be recycled and they end up in landfill. One of the worst places where dumping occurs (often illegally), is Agbogbloshie in Ghana. Resembling a post-apocalyptic scene out of a science fiction movie, Agbogbloshie is almost uninhabitable, although thousands of people do live there. Known as the ‘e-waste capital of the world,’ between the shanty shacks and dilaptated homes are burning mounds of materials clogging the sky with black smoke. Walk around the town and you will come across everything from fridges and microwaves to computers and car engines. Many of the residents suffer from health issues, particularly skin and breathing problems. Soil samples taken from the area have registered lead levels as high as 18,125 ppm, which compared to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standard of 400 ppm, highlights just how toxic Agbogbloshie is. 
2. Citarum River, Indonesia Bastian AS/Shutterstock Considered one of the most polluted rivers in the world, you don’t want to be taking a dip in the Citarum River. The third longest river in Java, Indonesia, receives over 20,000 tons of waste and 340,000 tons of wastewater from textile factories that dump their rubbish into the river. The surface of the Citarum is often unidentifiable as it is full of floating debris, from plastic bottles to dead animal carcasses.  The amount of aluminum found in the water is three times the acceptable level while the levels of lead are around 1,000% higher than they should be. This is a major issue, especially considering the river is a major water supply for about 25 million people. This has resulted in many health issues for people who rely on the river water for survival. 
3. Dzerzhinsk, Russia Orini/Shutterstock Dzerzhinsk is responsible for the majority of the chemical products manufactured in Russia. Once home to the country’s chemical weapon factories, its main export is still chemicals this time for all manner of private and retail products. Between 1939 and 1988 the majority of the Soviet Union’s chemical weapon experiments occurred in and around Dzerzhinsk. It’s estimated 300,000 tons of chemical waste has been dumped there, with the water supply infected with dioxins and phenol at levels reportedly 17 million times more than they should be.  It was named the “most chemically polluted city on Earth” by the Guinness Book of World Records, with its death rate exceeding its birth rate by 260% in 2003. In 2021, a pack of wild dogs was found to have blue fur believed to have been caused by copper sulfate, a by-product of the chemicals produced in Dzerzhinsk that cover the area. 
4. Hazaribagh, Bangladesh Sk Hasan Ali/Shutterstock Fast fashion is a major cause of pollution in the world, especially if you know anything about the way products are made. Leather, in particular, is in high demand and often crafted in third-world countries where labor is cheap. That’s exactly what happens in Hazaribagh, where there are around 150 tanneries staffed by underpaid locals. As the area is exempt from many standard regulations other businesses have to follow, it’s like the Wild West when it comes to workplace safety in Hazaribagh. Employees work in unsafe conditions and are exposed to dangerous materials on a daily basis. Most of the workers suffer from discolored skin, acid burns, corroded limbs, body aches, nausea, rashes, and other major long-term illness, such as cancer and respiratory diseases. Not only are humans impacted, but the environment as well, with air pollution causing low air quality and water pollution levels at an all-time high. 
5. Kabwe, Zambia Cities of the World/YouTube Kabwe has the unfortunate distinction of being a “sacrifice zone,” which is an area that has been compromised by environmental issues. Large lead and zinc deposits were found in the area and mined for decades, causing a high level of lead and zinc poisoning to occur throughout the region. The local water system is contaminated and traces of lead, cadmium, zinc, and copper have been found in the water, earth, and air. While the Zambian government is doing its best to reduce both the environmental and health risks, Kabwe remains a very toxic place. Tens of millions of dollars have been invested in the city but it doesn’t seem to have done much good. It also doesn’t help that many of the children still play in polluted areas, due to there being nowhere else to spend their time. 

See more about - 11 Famous Ancient Artifacts

6. Tianying, China List 25/YouTube As one of the largest lead production bases in China, it’s easy to see why Tianying makes this list. Over half of the lead production in the country happens here, and with little regulation or government control, factories are allowed to operate without fear of retribution for the damage they are causing to both the environment and the town’s citizens.  Lead poisoning is a major problem, with samples taken of the lead in the air and soil found to be 8.5 times and 10 times more than the national health standards respectively. Local farmers have also felt the impact, with crops dusted with lead particles from the factories having lead levels of 24 times what they should. As for those who live in the town, almost everyone has suffered some form of lead poisoning, with other health issues including both physical and mental deformities and disorders common. 
7. New Delhi, India

The capital of India is also one of the most toxic places on the planet. It’s the air quality that makes New Delhi such an unhealthy place to live, despite 28.5 million people calling New Delhi and the surrounding areas home. It consistently ranks as hazardous on the Air Quality Index Scale, which is a health alert that signifies “everyone should avoid all outdoor exertion.” Not an easy thing to do in a city with such a large population.  As well as the lack of clean air, other major problems include overcrowding, industrial waste, and too many cars, with the carbon dioxide being produced by all the vehicles on the road contributing to the air pollution issue.  8. Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan

Along with producing and testing chemical weapons in Dzerzhinsk, the Soviet Union used Semipalatinsk as a major testing zone. They conducted a whopping 456 nuclear tests at Semipalatinsk from 1949 until 1989, so you can imagine how that has negatively affected the land and the people who live there. It’s believed 1.5 million people were exposed to radiation during the testing period, with the Soviets having no concern for the people of Kazakhstan.  The fallout from the testing is still being felt today, with not only the general area still contaminated, but children still being born with birth defects caused by the radiation. A 2010 BBC program found that one in 20 children were born with genetic defects in the areas worst affected by the radiation.  9. Chernobyl, Ukraine

It might not have a great deal to do with climate change, but the Chernobyl meltdown remains the greatest nuclear disaster in history. It turned the once fertile city into a toxic wasteland that is uninhabitable. Chernobyl has been on the list of the “World’s Most Polluted Sites” since the accident happened on April 26, 1986.  There is a 19-mile exclusion zone around the city as there is still a strong radiation presence. Many locals also died or experienced long-term health effects due to radiation poisoning. Despite all of this, Chernobyl is now a tourist attraction, with tours taking people through certain areas of the town. Although the risk of getting radiation poisoning is slim, especially as the time spent in the area is limited, there is still a chance people can get ill and have long-term health problems.  10. Lake Karachay, Russia Data Tube/YouTube This small lake in the southern Ural mountains in Russia is as radioactive as Chernobyl, making it an easy fit for this list. It was used as a dumping site for radioactive material by the Soviets and is now completely filled in and used as a dry nuclear waste storage center. Karachay is the most polluted open-air place in the world but thankfully is not close to any major towns, and as it has been filled in, is less of a danger. That said, Lake Karachay is still regularly monitored to make sure the levels of radiation are not rising. 

See more about - 12 Most Peaceful Places On Earth

Whether you believe in climate change or not, there is no disputing the fact that the world is in a more precarious place than ever before. Pollution has hit levels never seen before, global temperatures are risings, the ice caps are melting, and extreme weather events are happening more frequently. Changes in the environment are normal as the Earth has gone through various weather cycles over the years, but recent NASA research shows what is happening now is caused by humans. “Scientific evidence for warming of the climate system is unequivocal,” said an Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. If the facts don’t sway you then maybe discovering more about the most toxic places on Earth will change your mind.  The most polluted places on earth are great examples of the damage being done to the environment by humans. These are countries and cities where the negative impact of climate change is on show for all to see. What were once thriving areas of vegetation full of wildlife are now toxic places where people struggle to survive. These places show where the world is heading if we don’t start taking climate change seriously.  Top 10 Most Toxic Places on Earth

1. Agbogbloshie, Ghana Aline Tong/Shutterstock As technology continues to improve at a rapid rate, everyone is clamoring for the latest smartphone or big-screen TV. That means there are a lot of old electronic products that need to be gotten rid of. Sadly there aren’t many ways for electrical items to be recycled and they end up in landfill. One of the worst places where dumping occurs (often illegally), is Agbogbloshie in Ghana. Resembling a post-apocalyptic scene out of a science fiction movie, Agbogbloshie is almost uninhabitable, although thousands of people do live there. Known as the ‘e-waste capital of the world,’ between the shanty shacks and dilaptated homes are burning mounds of materials clogging the sky with black smoke. Walk around the town and you will come across everything from fridges and microwaves to computers and car engines. Many of the residents suffer from health issues, particularly skin and breathing problems. Soil samples taken from the area have registered lead levels as high as 18,125 ppm, which compared to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standard of 400 ppm, highlights just how toxic Agbogbloshie is. 
2. Citarum River, Indonesia Bastian AS/Shutterstock Considered one of the most polluted rivers in the world, you don’t want to be taking a dip in the Citarum River. The third longest river in Java, Indonesia, receives over 20,000 tons of waste and 340,000 tons of wastewater from textile factories that dump their rubbish into the river. The surface of the Citarum is often unidentifiable as it is full of floating debris, from plastic bottles to dead animal carcasses.  The amount of aluminum found in the water is three times the acceptable level while the levels of lead are around 1,000% higher than they should be. This is a major issue, especially considering the river is a major water supply for about 25 million people. This has resulted in many health issues for people who rely on the river water for survival. 
3. Dzerzhinsk, Russia Orini/Shutterstock Dzerzhinsk is responsible for the majority of the chemical products manufactured in Russia. Once home to the country’s chemical weapon factories, its main export is still chemicals this time for all manner of private and retail products. Between 1939 and 1988 the majority of the Soviet Union’s chemical weapon experiments occurred in and around Dzerzhinsk. It’s estimated 300,000 tons of chemical waste has been dumped there, with the water supply infected with dioxins and phenol at levels reportedly 17 million times more than they should be.  It was named the “most chemically polluted city on Earth” by the Guinness Book of World Records, with its death rate exceeding its birth rate by 260% in 2003. In 2021, a pack of wild dogs was found to have blue fur believed to have been caused by copper sulfate, a by-product of the chemicals produced in Dzerzhinsk that cover the area. 
4. Hazaribagh, Bangladesh Sk Hasan Ali/Shutterstock Fast fashion is a major cause of pollution in the world, especially if you know anything about the way products are made. Leather, in particular, is in high demand and often crafted in third-world countries where labor is cheap. That’s exactly what happens in Hazaribagh, where there are around 150 tanneries staffed by underpaid locals. As the area is exempt from many standard regulations other businesses have to follow, it’s like the Wild West when it comes to workplace safety in Hazaribagh. Employees work in unsafe conditions and are exposed to dangerous materials on a daily basis. Most of the workers suffer from discolored skin, acid burns, corroded limbs, body aches, nausea, rashes, and other major long-term illness, such as cancer and respiratory diseases. Not only are humans impacted, but the environment as well, with air pollution causing low air quality and water pollution levels at an all-time high. 
5. Kabwe, Zambia Cities of the World/YouTube Kabwe has the unfortunate distinction of being a “sacrifice zone,” which is an area that has been compromised by environmental issues. Large lead and zinc deposits were found in the area and mined for decades, causing a high level of lead and zinc poisoning to occur throughout the region. The local water system is contaminated and traces of lead, cadmium, zinc, and copper have been found in the water, earth, and air. While the Zambian government is doing its best to reduce both the environmental and health risks, Kabwe remains a very toxic place. Tens of millions of dollars have been invested in the city but it doesn’t seem to have done much good. It also doesn’t help that many of the children still play in polluted areas, due to there being nowhere else to spend their time. 

See more about - 11 Famous Ancient Artifacts

6. Tianying, China List 25/YouTube As one of the largest lead production bases in China, it’s easy to see why Tianying makes this list. Over half of the lead production in the country happens here, and with little regulation or government control, factories are allowed to operate without fear of retribution for the damage they are causing to both the environment and the town’s citizens.  Lead poisoning is a major problem, with samples taken of the lead in the air and soil found to be 8.5 times and 10 times more than the national health standards respectively. Local farmers have also felt the impact, with crops dusted with lead particles from the factories having lead levels of 24 times what they should. As for those who live in the town, almost everyone has suffered some form of lead poisoning, with other health issues including both physical and mental deformities and disorders common. 
7. New Delhi, India

The capital of India is also one of the most toxic places on the planet. It’s the air quality that makes New Delhi such an unhealthy place to live, despite 28.5 million people calling New Delhi and the surrounding areas home. It consistently ranks as hazardous on the Air Quality Index Scale, which is a health alert that signifies “everyone should avoid all outdoor exertion.” Not an easy thing to do in a city with such a large population.  As well as the lack of clean air, other major problems include overcrowding, industrial waste, and too many cars, with the carbon dioxide being produced by all the vehicles on the road contributing to the air pollution issue.  8. Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan

Along with producing and testing chemical weapons in Dzerzhinsk, the Soviet Union used Semipalatinsk as a major testing zone. They conducted a whopping 456 nuclear tests at Semipalatinsk from 1949 until 1989, so you can imagine how that has negatively affected the land and the people who live there. It’s believed 1.5 million people were exposed to radiation during the testing period, with the Soviets having no concern for the people of Kazakhstan.  The fallout from the testing is still being felt today, with not only the general area still contaminated, but children still being born with birth defects caused by the radiation. A 2010 BBC program found that one in 20 children were born with genetic defects in the areas worst affected by the radiation.  9. Chernobyl, Ukraine

It might not have a great deal to do with climate change, but the Chernobyl meltdown remains the greatest nuclear disaster in history. It turned the once fertile city into a toxic wasteland that is uninhabitable. Chernobyl has been on the list of the “World’s Most Polluted Sites” since the accident happened on April 26, 1986.  There is a 19-mile exclusion zone around the city as there is still a strong radiation presence. Many locals also died or experienced long-term health effects due to radiation poisoning. Despite all of this, Chernobyl is now a tourist attraction, with tours taking people through certain areas of the town. Although the risk of getting radiation poisoning is slim, especially as the time spent in the area is limited, there is still a chance people can get ill and have long-term health problems.  10. Lake Karachay, Russia Data Tube/YouTube This small lake in the southern Ural mountains in Russia is as radioactive as Chernobyl, making it an easy fit for this list. It was used as a dumping site for radioactive material by the Soviets and is now completely filled in and used as a dry nuclear waste storage center. Karachay is the most polluted open-air place in the world but thankfully is not close to any major towns, and as it has been filled in, is less of a danger. That said, Lake Karachay is still regularly monitored to make sure the levels of radiation are not rising. 

See more about - 12 Most Peaceful Places On Earth

Whether you believe in climate change or not, there is no disputing the fact that the world is in a more precarious place than ever before. Pollution has hit levels never seen before, global temperatures are risings, the ice caps are melting, and extreme weather events are happening more frequently. Changes in the environment are normal as the Earth has gone through various weather cycles over the years, but recent NASA research shows what is happening now is caused by humans. “Scientific evidence for warming of the climate system is unequivocal,” said an Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. If the facts don’t sway you then maybe discovering more about the most toxic places on Earth will change your mind. 

The most polluted places on earth are great examples of the damage being done to the environment by humans. These are countries and cities where the negative impact of climate change is on show for all to see. What were once thriving areas of vegetation full of wildlife are now toxic places where people struggle to survive. These places show where the world is heading if we don’t start taking climate change seriously. 

Top 10 Most Toxic Places on Earth

1. Agbogbloshie, Ghana

Aline Tong/Shutterstock

As technology continues to improve at a rapid rate, everyone is clamoring for the latest smartphone or big-screen TV. That means there are a lot of old electronic products that need to be gotten rid of. Sadly there aren’t many ways for electrical items to be recycled and they end up in landfill. One of the worst places where dumping occurs (often illegally), is Agbogbloshie in Ghana.

Resembling a post-apocalyptic scene out of a science fiction movie, Agbogbloshie is almost uninhabitable, although thousands of people do live there. Known as the ‘e-waste capital of the world,’ between the shanty shacks and dilaptated homes are burning mounds of materials clogging the sky with black smoke. Walk around the town and you will come across everything from fridges and microwaves to computers and car engines.

Many of the residents suffer from health issues, particularly skin and breathing problems. Soil samples taken from the area have registered lead levels as high as 18,125 ppm, which compared to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standard of 400 ppm, highlights just how toxic Agbogbloshie is. 

2. Citarum River, Indonesia

Bastian AS/Shutterstock

Considered one of the most polluted rivers in the world, you don’t want to be taking a dip in the Citarum River. The third longest river in Java, Indonesia, receives over 20,000 tons of waste and 340,000 tons of wastewater from textile factories that dump their rubbish into the river. The surface of the Citarum is often unidentifiable as it is full of floating debris, from plastic bottles to dead animal carcasses. 

The amount of aluminum found in the water is three times the acceptable level while the levels of lead are around 1,000% higher than they should be. This is a major issue, especially considering the river is a major water supply for about 25 million people. This has resulted in many health issues for people who rely on the river water for survival. 

3. Dzerzhinsk, Russia

Orini/Shutterstock

Dzerzhinsk is responsible for the majority of the chemical products manufactured in Russia. Once home to the country’s chemical weapon factories, its main export is still chemicals this time for all manner of private and retail products.

Between 1939 and 1988 the majority of the Soviet Union’s chemical weapon experiments occurred in and around Dzerzhinsk. It’s estimated 300,000 tons of chemical waste has been dumped there, with the water supply infected with dioxins and phenol at levels reportedly 17 million times more than they should be. 

It was named the “most chemically polluted city on Earth” by the Guinness Book of World Records, with its death rate exceeding its birth rate by 260% in 2003. In 2021, a pack of wild dogs was found to have blue fur believed to have been caused by copper sulfate, a by-product of the chemicals produced in Dzerzhinsk that cover the area. 

4. Hazaribagh, Bangladesh

Sk Hasan Ali/Shutterstock

Fast fashion is a major cause of pollution in the world, especially if you know anything about the way products are made. Leather, in particular, is in high demand and often crafted in third-world countries where labor is cheap. That’s exactly what happens in Hazaribagh, where there are around 150 tanneries staffed by underpaid locals. As the area is exempt from many standard regulations other businesses have to follow, it’s like the Wild West when it comes to workplace safety in Hazaribagh.

Employees work in unsafe conditions and are exposed to dangerous materials on a daily basis. Most of the workers suffer from discolored skin, acid burns, corroded limbs, body aches, nausea, rashes, and other major long-term illness, such as cancer and respiratory diseases. Not only are humans impacted, but the environment as well, with air pollution causing low air quality and water pollution levels at an all-time high. 

5. Kabwe, Zambia

Cities of the World/YouTube

Kabwe has the unfortunate distinction of being a “sacrifice zone,” which is an area that has been compromised by environmental issues. Large lead and zinc deposits were found in the area and mined for decades, causing a high level of lead and zinc poisoning to occur throughout the region. The local water system is contaminated and traces of lead, cadmium, zinc, and copper have been found in the water, earth, and air.

While the Zambian government is doing its best to reduce both the environmental and health risks, Kabwe remains a very toxic place. Tens of millions of dollars have been invested in the city but it doesn’t seem to have done much good. It also doesn’t help that many of the children still play in polluted areas, due to there being nowhere else to spend their time. 

See more about - 11 Famous Ancient Artifacts

6. Tianying, China

List 25/YouTube

As one of the largest lead production bases in China, it’s easy to see why Tianying makes this list. Over half of the lead production in the country happens here, and with little regulation or government control, factories are allowed to operate without fear of retribution for the damage they are causing to both the environment and the town’s citizens. 

See more about - 11 Famous Ancient Artifacts

Lead poisoning is a major problem, with samples taken of the lead in the air and soil found to be 8.5 times and 10 times more than the national health standards respectively. Local farmers have also felt the impact, with crops dusted with lead particles from the factories having lead levels of 24 times what they should. As for those who live in the town, almost everyone has suffered some form of lead poisoning, with other health issues including both physical and mental deformities and disorders common. 

7. New Delhi, India

The capital of India is also one of the most toxic places on the planet. It’s the air quality that makes New Delhi such an unhealthy place to live, despite 28.5 million people calling New Delhi and the surrounding areas home. It consistently ranks as hazardous on the Air Quality Index Scale, which is a health alert that signifies “everyone should avoid all outdoor exertion.” Not an easy thing to do in a city with such a large population. 

As well as the lack of clean air, other major problems include overcrowding, industrial waste, and too many cars, with the carbon dioxide being produced by all the vehicles on the road contributing to the air pollution issue. 

8. Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan

Along with producing and testing chemical weapons in Dzerzhinsk, the Soviet Union used Semipalatinsk as a major testing zone. They conducted a whopping 456 nuclear tests at Semipalatinsk from 1949 until 1989, so you can imagine how that has negatively affected the land and the people who live there. It’s believed 1.5 million people were exposed to radiation during the testing period, with the Soviets having no concern for the people of Kazakhstan. 

The fallout from the testing is still being felt today, with not only the general area still contaminated, but children still being born with birth defects caused by the radiation. A 2010 BBC program found that one in 20 children were born with genetic defects in the areas worst affected by the radiation. 

9. Chernobyl, Ukraine

It might not have a great deal to do with climate change, but the Chernobyl meltdown remains the greatest nuclear disaster in history. It turned the once fertile city into a toxic wasteland that is uninhabitable. Chernobyl has been on the list of the “World’s Most Polluted Sites” since the accident happened on April 26, 1986. 

There is a 19-mile exclusion zone around the city as there is still a strong radiation presence. Many locals also died or experienced long-term health effects due to radiation poisoning. Despite all of this, Chernobyl is now a tourist attraction, with tours taking people through certain areas of the town. Although the risk of getting radiation poisoning is slim, especially as the time spent in the area is limited, there is still a chance people can get ill and have long-term health problems. 

10. Lake Karachay, Russia

Data Tube/YouTube

This small lake in the southern Ural mountains in Russia is as radioactive as Chernobyl, making it an easy fit for this list. It was used as a dumping site for radioactive material by the Soviets and is now completely filled in and used as a dry nuclear waste storage center.

Karachay is the most polluted open-air place in the world but thankfully is not close to any major towns, and as it has been filled in, is less of a danger. That said, Lake Karachay is still regularly monitored to make sure the levels of radiation are not rising. 

See more about - 12 Most Peaceful Places On Earth

See more about - 12 Most Peaceful Places On Earth