Pollution experts have identified the "world's most toxic town" as Kabwe in Zambia. US environmental health researcher Jack Caravanos was quoted as saying that the scale of lead contamination in the town is unprecedented.


This is the legacy of nearly a century of lead mining in the town, Guardian newspaper quotes him. The report says that the discharge from the smelter contaminated the soil which can then affect the children who play outside.

Lead poisoning can restrict the development of the brain. The Guardian says that a government fund is available to help with cleaning up the problem, but there is a lot of work to do.