Kierstin Lilly
4:25pm
9/16/10
China has now become the largest source of solid industrial waste in the world. The rate of generation of coal ash has more than doubled in the last 8 years. “China’s coal production is resulting in enough coal ash to fill one standard swimming pool every two and a half minutes.” It is estimated that for every four tons of coal China burns, it is producing one ton of coal ash. There have been around 20 different kinds of harmful substances found at the coal ash disposal spots and many of these spots have “poor safeguards to prevent coal ash contamination through wind dispersal or leakage into water.” A farmer living only seven kilometers away from the coal plant has said that the villagers are feeling obvious affects from the pollution and that “whenever the wind comes, the coal ash fills my eyes and makes them water.” Many farmers are also struggling with their crops being covered with coal ash.
The article does a good job describing the issue at hand and giving the reader a visual of how much pollution there actually is from the coal ash by comparing the amount to filling up a swimming pool. However, with all of the destruction that the coal ash is producing, “the law enforcement methods appear relatively weak.” Factories are only charged 30 Yuan (roughly $4.4) for each ton of coal ash that is not disposed of properly. The amounts of coal ash being distributed throughout China by means of wind dispersal and water contamination have reached all time highs. The article clearly addresses that the issue is becoming more severe with the effects on the land, people, and water. Even with that being stated, there are no mentioned actions being taken to undo the damage. Regardless, the country is recognizing its faults and working towards “an improvement in energy efficiency and the development of renewable energy.”
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