Water in many developing countries is
contaminated
with
toxic chemicals
, also known as
toxins. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 1.1 billion people have little or no
access to clean water. In many of these regions the water that is used for drinking, cooking, and
washing is the same water that is used for dumping
sewage
and
hazardous waste
. Most
developing countries cannot afford water treatment facilities. Approximately 80% of infectious
diseases in the world are caused by contaminated water.
Air pollution is a growing problem throughout the world. Indoor air pollution is one of the
leading causes of lung cancer. Families in developing countries use open stoves for cooking and
heating their homes. These homes do not have proper
ventilation
. The smoke, which is full of
chemicals and
carcinogens
, gets trapped inside where families eat and sleep. Outdoor pollution
also causes disease and illness, especially in
industrial
cities such as Beijing, China, where
cancer is the leading cause of death. China relies heavily on coal, which is considered the dirtiest
source of energy. According to the European Union, only 1% of urban dwellers in China breathe
clean air on an average day. Neighbouring countries including Japan and Korea receive much of
China's pollution in the form of
acid rain
. This pollution results mainly from the coal powered
factories, which produce inexpensive goods for North American and European consumers.
Outdoor air pollution is also a concern in many wealthy countries. Those who live and work in
urban centres such as Los Angeles or Toronto experience many warm days beneath a layer
of
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