Soil Pollution In China: Causes And Concerns

Soil pollution in China has been a side effect of three decades of rapid economic development. It is a severe problem that has contaminated food crops and put public health and food security at risk. A 2014 government survey showed that nearly a fifth of the country's farmland was contaminated to varying degrees by chemical waste, pesticides, mining residues, and heavy metals. The extensive use of agrochemicals, industrial waste seeping from factories, and the use of polluted water for irrigation are major contributors to soil pollution in China.

Industrial waste and agricultural activities

Soil pollution is one of China's most significant environmental challenges. It is a less visible consequence of three decades of rapid economic development and industrialization, which has contaminated food crops and put public health and food security at risk.

Chemical waste, heavy metals, and mining residues are significant pollutants. Heavy metals like cadmium, chromium, lead, and arsenic have been found in high concentrations in the soil, often due to industrial activities. In the case of Dingshu, a township with many enterprises, cadmium levels in the river silt reached 1,500 mg per kg, far exceeding food safety standards. Rice produced in Dingshu had cadmium levels above the international limit of 0.4 mg per kg, posing health risks to consumers.

Agricultural activities, such as the excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides, have also played a role in soil pollution. The Asia-Pacific region, including China, is the largest producer and consumer of agrochemicals. The extensive use of pesticides and other agrochemicals has led to agriculture-related soil pollution problems. Additionally, the use of polluted water for irrigation further contributes to soil contamination.

The soil pollution caused by industrial waste and agricultural activities has severe implications for human health and the environment. Contaminants can accumulate in the food chain, ultimately affecting the people who consume the crops. The need to balance economic development with environmental protection presents a complex challenge for China.

Lack of government incentives and financing mechanisms

Soil pollution in China is a severe problem. It is a side effect of three decades of rapid economic development and industrialization. In 2014, a fifth of China's farmland was contaminated with chemical waste, pesticides, mining residues, and heavy metals. The problem is especially acute in the industrial belt along the eastern coast and inland provinces in central and western China.

The Chinese government has struggled to address soil pollution due to a lack of incentives and financing mechanisms. Local governments, which are responsible for a significant portion of the income from land sales and land-transferring fees, have been criticized by Greenpeace for prioritizing economic gains over environmental protection. In 2018, local authorities earned 6.5 trillion yuan from the transfer of land utilization permits, with only 7.75 billion yuan spent on treating contaminated land. This discrepancy highlights the lack of financial commitment to addressing soil pollution.

The complex nature of soil pollution, involving multiple pollutants, further complicates remediation efforts. Heavy metals and metalloids like chromium, lead, and arsenic are prevalent in contaminated land, and the range of pollutants makes finding effective solutions more challenging. Additionally, constant changes in land ownership make it difficult to hold polluters accountable, as responsibility for addressing pollution often falls on the current landowner.

The Chinese government has recognized the urgency of the situation and released a national action plan in 2016 to tackle soil pollution. However, implementation has been hindered by a lack of incentives for local governments to prioritize environmental protection over economic gains. Insufficient funds and coordination among government agencies have also impeded progress. To effectively address soil pollution, China needs to implement legal measures, improve inter-departmental cooperation, and allocate more resources to remediation efforts.

The cost of rehabilitating contaminated land is substantial. Experts estimate that treating one million hectares of polluted soil will cost at least 140 billion yuan (22.6 billion USD). With the slowing of China's economy and the downturn in real estate prices, finding the necessary funds for remediation becomes increasingly challenging.

Land ownership changes

Soil pollution in China is a severe problem. It is a side effect of three decades of rapid economic development and industrialization. The country's industrial belt along the eastern coast and inland provinces in central and western China are the most affected areas.

Constant changes in land ownership make it difficult to hold polluters accountable. Local governments' reliance on land sales for revenue means they are less motivated to prioritize the treatment of pollution. In 2018, land utilization permit transfers earned local authorities 6.5 trillion yuan ($968.53 billion), a quarter more than the previous year. During the same period, a quarter of China's contaminated land was transferred, generating 1.05 trillion yuan. In comparison, only 7.75 billion yuan was spent on remediation, just 7% of the total earnings for the year.

Local governments have been eager to redevelop former industrial sites, as land-transferring fees contribute significantly to their income. In 2015, these fees accounted for 39.9% of local governments' income. However, the slowing Chinese economy and the downturn in real estate prices have made it challenging to rely on the real estate market for remediation funds, especially in inland areas.

China's central government has recognized the severity of the issue and is taking measures to address it. In 2016, the State Council, the country's highest administrative body, released a national action plan to prevent and control soil pollution. The plan set two major deadlines: stabilizing soil quality by 2020 to ensure 90% of polluted farmland and industrial sites are safe to use, and improving soil quality by 2030 so that 95% of contaminated land becomes safe. However, a general lack of supervision, insufficient funds, and inadequate technology may hinder the achievement of these goals.

Mining and quarrying

Mining activities have been occurring for thousands of years, and they have had a significant impact on the environment. The extraction processes can contaminate the air and water with sulfur dioxide and other pollutants, putting wildlife and local populations at risk. The pits and heaps of waste material left behind by mining operations can block or bury nearby water sources, and the groundwater that fills these pits often becomes polluted.

In China, mining residues and heavy metals have contaminated nearly a fifth of the country's farmland, according to a 2014 government survey. This pollution has had a significant impact on the soil's microbial community and functions, with 75.8% of sampled farmlands exhibiting varying degrees of heavy metal pollution. The problem is particularly acute in old industrial or rural regions, where property prices are low and there are fewer incentives for local governments to invest in cleanup efforts.

The Chinese government has recognized the severity of the soil pollution issue and has taken steps to address it. In 2016, the State Council released a national action plan on the prevention and control of soil pollution, setting deadlines for stabilizing and improving soil quality. However, implementation has been challenging due to a lack of supervision, insufficient funds, and a lack of technology.

Agrochemicals

Pesticide use per hectare of agricultural land in East Asia is above the global average, with China (specifically Hong Kong and Taiwan) using about 13 kg/ha. The extensive use of agrochemicals is one of the main causes of agriculture-related soil pollution in the region.

In China, soil pollution is a significant environmental challenge. A 2014 government survey showed that nearly one-fifth of the country's farmland was contaminated to varying degrees by chemical waste, pesticides, mining residues, and heavy metals. This contamination has severe consequences for food security and public health. Official estimates suggest that China produces 12 million tons of heavy-metal-contaminated grain annually, resulting in economic losses exceeding $3.2 billion.

China has recognized the severity of the issue and has taken steps to address it. The State Council, the country's highest administrative body, released a national action plan in 2016 to prevent and control soil pollution. The plan set deadlines for stabilizing and improving soil quality, aiming to ensure that 90% of polluted farmland and industrial sites are safe to use by 2020 and 95% by 2030. However, implementing these goals has proven challenging due to a lack of supervision, insufficient funds, and inadequate technology.

Local governments' reliance on land sales for revenue has also hindered soil pollution remediation efforts. In 2018, local authorities earned 6.5 trillion yuan ($968.53 billion) from land utilization permit transfers, with only 7.75 billion yuan spent on treating contaminated land. The constant changes in land ownership make it difficult to hold polluters accountable, further complicating the issue.

Frequently asked questions