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La Oroya, Peru
Population:
35,209
Worst Feature:
Lead Contamination
Best Feature:
Toxic Clouds block sun, reducing exposure to UV.
Another city on the list of world’s dirtiest and most toxic places; thanks
to lead and other metal smelters the population of La Oroya has been subject
to unregulated and uncontrolled toxic emissions for decades.
We have all
heard of the problems of lead poisoning in children even in this country,
that has banned the use of lead based paint in homes since the ‘70’s The
lead levels in the blood of nearly 100% of the children of this city are 10x
the amount they should be.
The city also suffers from sulphur dioxide
emissions, cadmium and arsenic poisoning of the soil and groundwater, which
has killed the surrounding vegetation.
While a Toxic cloud hangs over the
city poisoning 99% of its residents, it does have a nice view of the Andes,
and at least the smelting plant keeps people employed, which according to
its owners and the government is their best arguments to keeps them form
shutting it down.
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