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Cleaning up the Most Toxic Pollution in the World

Posted by Zonk on from the top-ten-of-toxic dept.

Hugh Pickens writes "Blacksmith Institute has published their list of the most polluted sites in the world compiled by comparing the toxicity of the contamination, the likelihood of it getting into humans and the number of people affected. For example, ninety-nine percent of the children living in and around the poly-metallic smelter at La Oroya in Peru, owned by the Missouri-based Doe Run Corporation, have blood lead levels that exceed acceptable limits. Scientific American says that despite the massive pollution, it would be relatively cheap and easy to clean up the most dangerous hazards. For $15,000, the radioactive contaminated soil from the Mayak plutonium facility on the shore of the Techa River in the Russian town of Muslyomova could be dug up, saving an estimated 350 lives. 'For about $200, the cost of a refrigerator, we are able to save someone's life,' says Richard Fuller, founder of Blacksmith."

4 of 212 comments (clear)

  1. Polluted Sites? by chromozone · · Score: 5, Funny

    I didn't see MySpace on the list

  2. WTB!! by Berenger · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Please tell me more about this $200 fridge.

    1. Re:WTB!! by datapharmer · · Score: 5, Funny

      It has two wire shelves that are not adjustable. There is no light when you open the door. It doesn't get particularly cold and there is no ice-maker, but if you fill the ice tray it might actually freeze if you turn it to coldest and keep it closed for 24 hours. The door has no built in shelving, and it has a place on the handle where you can put a lock. It is 4.1 Cubic Feet and commonly found in hotel rooms with little itsy bitsy alice-in-wonderland size bottles of things to drink in it that will quadruple your hotel bill in one night.

      Now you know.

      --
      Get a web developer
  3. Re:Borders. by mh1997 · · Score: 5, Funny

    I need a map with country border on it

    I hear you can obtain one of those at your local bookstore. Some other options are things called "atlases" and "globes".

    I personally have such as heard such as a reliable source saying that she believes many US Americans don't have maps, and such as Asia, and such as think of the children. So a comment such as yours is wrong.