Question

Why should we be worried about water and air pollution in China?

Answer 1

One of the largest pollution contributors

Explanation:

China is one important contributor to pollution.

Air pollution originated from China ends in western coast of the USA. We can see list some interesting facts about China.

1. Air pollution is a serious problem in China. Smog stays heavy over Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong. Children living in such polluted areas develop asthma and other respiratory illnesses (Greenpeace, 2017).

2. `PM_2.5` (particles with an aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 μm) air pollution is also important. In Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Xi’an, `PM_2.5` levels in all four cities exceed World Heath Organisation (WHO) air quality guidelines. This triggers higher health risks to the cardiovascular system, cerebrovascular system and an increase in the probability of cancer and premature death (Greenpeace, 2017).

3. You can see momentarily air pollution in China by visiting here.

4. Nearly one third of the industrial wastewater and 90 percent of domestic wastewater in China is discharged into rivers and lakes without being treated. Nearly 80 percent of China's cities have no wastewater treatment facilities and few have plans to build any and underground water supplies in 90 percent of the cites are contaminated (Facts and Details, 2017).

5. Water used by people in China contains hazardous levels of arsenic, fluorine, and sulfates. An estimated 980 million of China's 1.3 billion people drink water every day that is partly contaminated. More than 600 million Chinese consume water contaminated with human or animal wastes and 20 million people drink (groundwater) well water contaminated with high levels of radiation. A large number of arsenic-tainted water have also been discovered. China's high rates of liver, stomach and esophageal cancer have been linked to water pollution (Facts and Details, 2017).

References:

Air Pollution in Asia: Real-time Air Quality Index Visual Map. Retrieved on the internet May 29, 2017: http://aqicn.org/map/

Facts and Details (2017). Jeffrey Hays (2013). Water Pollution in China. Retrieved on the internet May 29, 2017: http://factsanddetails.com/china/cat10/sub66/item391.html

Greenpeace East Asia (2017). Reduce Air Pollution. Retrieved on the Internet May 29, 2017: http://www.greenpeace.org/eastasia/campaigns/air-pollution/