And China has witnessed growing public anger over air pollution and industrial waste caused by industrial development.

BBC: China acknowledges 'cancer villages'

What ails Modesto is what ails Bakersfield (No. 1), Hanford (No. 3), Fresno (No. 4) and other small Central Valley cities (the Valley accounts for all the California cites on the list aside from Los Angeles): heavy doses of nitrogen oxide and hydrocarbons stemming from gasoline, chemical processing, paints and other industrial byproducts that harm the ozone and release particle pollution into the air.

FORBES: The Worst Cities In America For Your Lungs

The debate over air pollution and, more specifically, the regulation of air pollution, raged on this week as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) watered down its cross-state pollution rule and House Republicans moved to delay new rules on toxic air pollution from cement plants, solid waste incinerators, and industrial boilers.

FORBES: Two New Reasons to Worry about Air Pollution: Obesity and Diabetes

Irresponsible industrial practices have wrought terrible environmental abuses in forms of air, land and water pollution.

FORBES: Chinese Checkmate: Beating Us At Our Own Game?