Meghan Hodges
China's rapid industrialization has resulted in severe environmental degradation, with the country ranking 11th in a list of the world's dirtiest countries in 2019. The country's land, air, and water quality have all suffered, with 38,610 square miles of cultivated land polluted, and contaminated water being used to irrigate a further 31.5 million square miles. China's air quality is also a major issue, with the country being the world's leading emitter of greenhouse gases and mercury, and particulate pollution exceeding the World Health Organization's (WHO) recommended levels.
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What You'll Learn
- Soil pollution: 38,610 sq mi of cultivated land polluted, threatening food safety
- Waterways contaminated: industrial discharge makes many unfit for human use
- Air pollution: particulate pollution is a threat to human health, reducing life expectancy
- Desertification: 1,740,000 sq km of land is 'dry', impacting 400 million people
- Mercury pollution: China is the world's leading emitter, a harmful neurotoxin
Soil pollution: 38,610 sq mi of cultivated land polluted, threatening food safety
China's rapid economic development over the past three decades has resulted in widespread soil pollution, threatening food safety and public health. Official data estimates that 38,610 square miles (100,000 square kilometres) of China's cultivated land are polluted, with heavy metal contamination being a significant concern. This accounts for one-tenth of the country's cultivable land.
The presence of heavy metals, including mercury, lead, cadmium, copper, nickel, chromium, and zinc, in the soil has adverse health effects on human metabolism. An estimated 6 million tonnes of food grains are contaminated by these heavy metals annually, resulting in direct economic losses of 29 billion yuan (US$2.57 billion).
The soil pollution is attributed to various factors, including industrial discharges, agricultural chemicals, and improper waste disposal. In an attempt to address the issue, the Chinese government has implemented stricter regulations and environmental reforms. However, critics argue that investment in soil pollution prevention and control remains insufficient, and the government's focus on economic growth has come at the expense of the environment.
The impact of soil pollution on food safety is evident, with many crops no longer suitable for consumption due to contamination. Local communities, particularly the poorest families, are forced to consume contaminated food, knowing the risks involved. This has led to serious health issues, including cancer and other metabolic disorders.
The situation in Fenshui, a village in Central China's Jiangsu Province, exemplifies the consequences of soil pollution. As factories clustered along the shores of Lake Tai, the traditional farmlands became contaminated, rendering them unfit for crop growth. The pollutants released by these factories ended up in the soil, threatening the health of the villagers and showcasing the urgent need for improved environmental soil standards and legislation to protect China's cultivable land.
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Waterways contaminated: industrial discharge makes many unfit for human use
China is the world's most populous country, with a population of approximately 1.4 billion people as of 2019. It is the fourth-largest country by area, with a total land area of 9.6 million square kilometres. In 2019, China ranked as the 11th dirtiest country in the world, with particulate pollution levels 40% higher than in the most polluted county in the United States.
Water pollution is a significant issue in China, with approximately 70% of the country's rivers and lakes unsafe for human use. This is due to industrial discharges, with factories releasing untreated waste into waterways, and agricultural pollution from animal waste. In 2011, the Chinese Ministry of Environmental Protection reported that 280 million Chinese people drank unsafe water, and 43% of state-monitored rivers and lakes were so polluted that they were unsuitable for human contact.
One example of waterway contamination is the Qingshui River, a tributary of the Huai River, which has turned black with pollution from small mines meeting the demand for magnesium, molybdenum, and vanadium used in the steel industry. River samples from the Qingshui River indicated unhealthy levels of magnesium and chromium. In 2007, several companies along the Songhua River were ordered to shut down due to the heavily polluted water they dumped into the river.
Groundwater pollution is also a severe problem in China, with a government study in 2013 finding that 90% of the country's cities had contaminated groundwater, mostly severely. Chemical companies in Weifang, a city of 8 million in Shandong province, were accused of discharging waste sewage underground, seriously polluting the water and posing a cancer threat to the population.
While China has made some progress in reducing pollution, with levels down by 41% in 2022 compared to 2013, it still has a long way to go to ensure its waterways are safe for human use.
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Air pollution: particulate pollution is a threat to human health, reducing life expectancy
China is the world's most populous country, with a population of approximately 1.4 billion people. It is also the fourth-largest country by area, with a total land area of 9.6 million square kilometres. In 2019, China ranked as the 11th dirtiest country in the world. The country's rapid economic growth, increase in motor vehicles, population growth, and manufacturing outputs have all contributed to its air pollution problem.
Particulate pollution, or particle pollution, refers to a mixture of tiny bits of solids and liquids in the air. It is composed of chemicals such as sulfates, nitrates, carbon, or mineral dust. Vehicle emissions, fuel oils, natural gas, and fumes from chemical production are significant sources of human-made particulate pollution. In China, emissions from vehicles contribute to almost 70% of Beijing's polluted air. The number of vehicles registered in Beijing is 3.3 million, and this figure increases by 1200 each day.
Particulate pollution poses a significant threat to human health. It is associated with oxidative stress and inflammation in human cells, which can lead to chronic diseases and cancer. Short-term exposure to high levels of particulate pollution has been linked to reduced lung function, asthma, cardiac problems, and increased hospital admissions. Research has also shown that prenatal exposure to particulate pollution can have adverse effects on brain development and increase the risk of neurobehavioral problems in children.
In China, particulate pollution is among the five greatest threats to human health, reducing the life expectancy of the average resident by 2.3 to 2.5 years. The situation is even more severe in Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, where the average person is expected to lose 4.3 years of their life expectancy due to pollution. Overall, if current pollution levels persist, China stands to lose 3.6 billion total life years. However, there is some positive news. Since China announced a “war against pollution” in 2014, fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5) has been decreasing. From 2013 to 2022, pollution levels dropped by 41%, and if these improvements are sustained, the average Chinese citizen could gain up to 2 years of life expectancy.
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Desertification: 1,740,000 sq km of land is 'dry', impacting 400 million people
China is facing a severe environmental crisis due to extensive land pollution and desertification. The country's rapid population growth, economic boom, and increase in motorised vehicles have led to heightened pollution levels, threatening public health and sustainable agriculture.
Desertification, a critical component of land pollution, is profoundly impacting China. Approximately 1,740,000 square kilometres of land in China are classified as "dry", signifying advanced desertification. This phenomenon affects the lives of approximately 400 million people and results in substantial economic losses of 54 billion yuan ($7 billion) annually.
Desertification in China is driven by various factors, including climate change, poor water management, overgrazing, and human activities such as deforestation and unsustainable land exploitation. The combination of these factors has accelerated the process, with sandstorms and wind erosion exacerbating the problem. The Gobi Desert in northern China and southern Mongolia, the sixth-largest desert in the world, is steadily expanding due to desertification and now encroaches on Beijing.
The consequences of desertification are far-reaching. It disrupts food production, leading to crop failures, livestock losses, and water scarcity. Additionally, communities are forced to migrate, becoming climate refugees, as their homes and livelihoods are destroyed. The issue of desertification in China is not limited to environmental concerns but extends to societal and economic realms, hindering progress toward sustainable development.
To combat desertification, China has acknowledged the issue and committed to environmental reforms. Under the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), China is taking steps to address the problem. However, the process of restoring land is slow, and officials estimate that at the current rate of treatment, it could take up to 300 years to rehabilitate the affected areas.
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Mercury pollution: China is the world's leading emitter, a harmful neurotoxin
China, the world's most populous country, has been facing severe pollution problems for years. In 2019, China ranked as the 11th dirtiest country in the world, with particulate pollution levels 40% higher than in the most polluted county in the United States. The country's rapid economic growth, population expansion, and industrialization have contributed significantly to this issue.
Mercury pollution is a pressing concern within China's overall pollution crisis. Mercury is a naturally occurring element found in air, water, and soil. However, human activities, particularly coal-fired power plants, industrial processes, and mining, have led to excessive mercury emissions, making China the world's leading emitter of this harmful neurotoxin.
The toxicity of mercury poses severe risks to both human health and the environment. Mercury is considered one of the top ten chemicals of major public health concern by the World Health Organization (WHO). Exposure to even small amounts of mercury can cause serious health issues, particularly affecting the nervous, digestive, and immune systems, as well as the lungs, kidneys, skin, and eyes. Methylmercury, an organic compound of mercury, is the most toxic form, and it accumulates in fish and shellfish, leading to high exposure levels in humans who consume these foods.
In China, the combination of industrial activities and long-term atmospheric transport has resulted in a sustained increase in mercury concentrations in soils. Mercury pollution in China is especially prominent around mines and industrial sites. The remediation of mercury-contaminated soil is still in its early stages in the country, and more research is needed to effectively address this issue.
The Chinese government has recognized the severity of the pollution problem, and since 2014, it has been fighting a ""war against pollution." Efforts to reduce industrial pollution and implement environmental regulations have shown progress, with particulate pollution levels decreasing by 41% between 2013 and 2022. These improvements have positively impacted the life expectancy of Chinese citizens, and continued progress could further enhance health outcomes.
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Frequently asked questions
It is difficult to provide an exact figure as the situation is constantly changing, but as of 2019, China ranked as the 11th dirtiest country in the world. 38,610 square miles (100,000 km2) of China's cultivated land have been polluted, with contaminated water being used to irrigate a further 31.5 million square miles (21,670 km2).
The primary cause of land pollution in China is the country's immense population growth since the 1980s, which has resulted in increased soil pollution. Other factors include the economic boom, a large increase in the number of motorised vehicles, manufacturing outputs, and natural reasons such as topography and seasonal weather.
The Chinese government has implemented various measures to address land pollution, including environmental regulations and industrial reforms. For example, legislation has banned the importation of electronic waste, and more factories are required to retrofit flue-gas desulphurisation technology to remove sulphur dioxide from emissions. However, these efforts have been criticised as insufficient and susceptible to fraud.
