 3. Kabwe, Zambia
In the past, lead and zinc mining provided wealth to Kabwe, a town in Zambia close to the earlier Copper belt. It is one of the most infected locations in the world today, following over a century of mining. Lead, cadmium, zinc, and copper are only a few of the harmful substances that are still present in the air, water, and soil even after emissions decreased in 1994. Lead poisoning in Kabwe is a serious problem for children, with levels 5–10 times higher than EPA recommendations. Despite efforts by global and regional organizations, including a $40 million World Bank fund, not much has been accomplished. We are unaware of the precise number of people impacted since the local government is reluctant to disclose the full scope of the issue.
