Does anyone notice that the worst pollution problems in the 20th Century all occurred in Communist countries? Look at the many industrial waste sites in the former Soviet Union--they make the infamous Love Canal fiasco seem like an extremely minor incident in comparison.
Our Russian roommates father worked in some kind of chemical plant in the former Soviet Union. He made the mistake of asking why the vegetation all died and there was no wildlife around the plant. He was demoted and forced to work with little protection in even worse conditions. He died when he was in his 40s and they never did know what kind of chemicals he came into contact with.