Poisonous Ruins: Russian Town Struggles With Toxic Lead Legacy
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It was once ranked among the most polluted places on Earth, but Rudnaya Pristan in Russia's Far East, about 500 kilometers north of Vladivostok, has cleaned up its act since the closure of its lead smelting plant. Local fish populations benefited from cleaner water but are now threatened by overfishing. A big problem for locals is unemployment and many engage in illegal fishing to make ends meet.