Friday, November 7, 2014

Pollution Problems...

          Despite China's economic juggernaut, it holds some of the greatest pollution severity across the world. Public health is reeling, cancer rates are staggering. According to a New York Times article, "Air pollution alone is blamed for over hundreds of thousands of deaths each year," and "over 500 million people lack access to safe drinking water. The skies are constantly shrouded in pollution clouds; not seeing the blue sky is normal to Chinese city dwellers.



Just recently, parts of China's air reached 20 times the "normal" polluted amount (The Gaurdian, Pollution). In fact, the European Union documented that barely 1% of 560 million people have safe air to breathe. I thought I had recycling issues...

Tourists play at a beach covered by a thick layer of green algae on July 3 in Qingdao.
Green Algae formed in the  waters of China from high bacteria concentration, Its "normal" to them.

Chinese Government knows a change of course is needed, but it's hard when the country is experiencing such phenomenal economical growth and success. Leaders of China claim they are looking for solutions to continue their growth and consider the stability of China's health.

China's pollution has become such a problem it is starting to affect other countries as well. High levels of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are producing hefty acid rain clouds. China will not be the leaders of the world if their pollution problem grows any longer. When will the ignorance be taken too far?




      

 Sources:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/26/world/asia/26china.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
http://www.cnn.com/2013/07/05/world/asia/china-algae-green-blob/index.html
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/oct/10/china-pollution-levels-hit-20-times-safe-levels



4 comments:

  1. This topic is very interesting and the algae looks awful.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I could not imagine swimming in that unless it was extremely hot and humid.

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  3. I would not step one foot into that water!

    ReplyDelete