16.1 Percent of China Soil Contaminated by Chemical Substances
19 October 2018 20:30 WIB
TEMPO.CO, China - Negative impacts of industrialization in China has started to bring in victims. Latest study from the Chinese environment ministry found that almost 16.1 percent of soil in China has been contaminated. "Mostly caused by cadmium, mercury and arsenic," as stated in the study.
Previously, a number of big cities in China were covered by a blanket of smoke emitted from vehicles and factories. Many city residents were forced to wear masks during activities outside their house.
The research conducted by the ministry took samples across 6.3-million square kilometers of land or approximately two-third of the country's total. The research concluded they were pessimistic about the current state of soil in China.
"Some regions are suffering from relatively heavy pollution, the quality of soil in planting areas is worrying, and the problem of waste from industry and mining also stands out," the ministry said in its website as quoted by BBC, earlier today. They are planning on taking preventive measures and better legislation.
The most severe pollution areas are in three main industrial zones: the Yangtze River Delta in east China, the Pearl River Delta in south China and the northeast corner which was previously a heavy industrial hub.
AMIR TEJO
