Air Pollution in China is a Big Issue – Here’s What To Do (Even If You Live Far Away!)
This is a Guest Post by C.N. Moore
In what has progressed into some of the biggest environmental news, China has a serious air quality problem. In a world where air pollution is an ever-increasing global issue, China currently seems to stand a head and shoulders above the rest. Even if you aren’t living there, you’ve likely heard the disturbing reports about the terrible air pollution in China.
And the primary guilty parties? China’s tens of thousands of factories.
“Entire industrial regions of China are being temporarily shut down, and the unusual sight of blue skies is reappearing as environmental inspectors go about their work. After decades of doing little about the pollution that has plagued much of the country, China’s government may be finally getting serious about enforcing its environmental laws,” says Rob Schmitz for NPR.
Hopefully, what Schmitz says is true. Hopefully China’s issues, at least at their current level, are not issues that the country will carry with them into the future.
Air pollution, especially at the levels that some areas of China experience it, has detrimental impacts for virtually every level of society.
Read on to find out the impacts on ordinary people – and also, what you can do (you may be surprised!).
How People are Impacted by Air Pollution in China
Some of the most heartbreaking news to come from China has been that related to the people who live in highly industrialized areas.
Studies are consistently showing that the impacts are morbid. A 2015 scientific paper estimated that China’s air had contributed to the deaths of 1.6 million individuals. A 2016 study found that those living in the northern part of the country are likely to die three years earlier than those in the south, and in some specific areas the number grows to almost seven years.
To further the point, public health experts at USC’s Keck School of Medicine write: “The atmosphere we’ve taken for granted for so long has evidenced its fragility. From volcanic emissions shutting down entire regions of air traffic, to pollution emission in developing countries, poor air quality is killing people by the millions.”
That sober reality makes this shift so welcome. If China is able to restore proper regulations it will impact not just industry, but also people’s lives. A decrease in air pollution means that there will be fewer people suffering from lung disease and other breathing problems. When major polluters are forced to scale back, people’s health is inevitably bolstered.
How the Environment is Impacted by Air Pollution in China
In addition to its ability to harm human beings’ personal health, severe air pollution has implications for the environment that can be crippling. The Environmental Protection Agency lays out some of the most troubling consequences of air pollution in China, including:
Acid Rain: Acid rain refers to precipitation that contains dangerous amounts of nitric and sulfuric acids. Whether these acids are contained within wet or dry precipitation they can be carried hundreds of miles and harmfully impact the soil, water, and vegetation where they land.
According to natural resource specialists with Ohio University, “As our detection methods have improved, scientists have been finding a concerning amount of contaminants in rivers and lakes. Many of these contaminants are chemicals or other elements that can be extremely detrimental to humans and aquatic life.”
Ozone Layer Impacts: As the EPA notes, “The stratospheric ozone layer is Earth’s “sunscreen” – protecting living things from too much ultraviolet radiation. The emission of ozone depleting substances has been damaging the ozone layer.”
Chemicals used by man in substances like fire extinguishers, solvents, pesticides, and aerosol propellant all deplete that good, protective ozone layer.
Visibility: On the most basic and easy-to-spot level, air pollution translates to tiny particles in the air that reduce visibility and clarity for all. In a way that is impossible to ignore, quality of life is depleted.
There are already reports coming from other parts of Asia that overview how both wildlife and pets have have suffered due to their pressing haze concerns.
How the Economy is Impacted by Air Pollution in China
The obvious tension here is that this has to slow China’s production. However, it is important to note that pollution itself is not a cost-effective factor for an industry.
“Air pollution is clearly very costly to its $11-trillion-plus economy. It dings China’s GDP about 6.5 percent annually, according to RAND Corp. estimates. Those costs are mainly driven by lost productivity, since factories are shut down on bad air days to avoid the dangerous health effects of breathing the dense, toxic air,” writes Constance Gustke for CNBC.
So again, there will certainly be an impact not just on China in general, but also on those who rely on their factory job to feed their family. However, this is the type of change that paves the way for smart, eco-friendly innovations that allow for long-term productivity in a way that a polluting, inefficient factory simply cannot.
How YOU Can Make an Impact – Really – On Air Pollution in China
These moments are prime (even for those far from China) to consider how a country’s and an individual’s decision have the ability to become become a part of the global picture. Even those who live on the other side of the planet are seeing the impact of China’s pollution.
We all contribute to air pollution but there are ways that you can minimize your impact right where you are.
Don’t let your lighting contribute: Haze is more than just particles in the air. To preserve visibility for animals and humans alike and stop light pollution, consider how you utilize energy-efficient bulbs, and how you can use even those as little as possible – especially outdoor lighting.
Participate in local conservation efforts: Not only will this foster a community-wide sense of responsibility, it also allows you to connect with like-minded individuals. You’ll be encouraged and educated in equal measure.
Consider your own emissions: This is pretty straightforward: how are you using the heating and air in your house? Have you ensured that when you refill the fuel in your mower, you don’t let any spill? What does your commuting situation look like?
Become a responsible consumer: In 2016 China was the largest import supplier for the United States, which means that China’s factories are largely being utilized by the American people. It’s on-trend for consumers to demand green food products, but few consider where their electronics are coming from and where they will go when they’re through with them. Combating the air pollution problem begins when all consumers recognize how interconnected the west is with the factories of China.
Conclusion
Simple things, done in thoughtful ways can make a world of difference. In China’s case they’ve gone far beyond simple, and that will hopefully open the door for a future where people and environment do not have to suffer for the sake of industrial productivity.
Not only that, but we can only hope that as the rest of the world watches and moves forward, China will remind us that endless, excessive polluting does have consequences that eventually become impossible to ignore.
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Warm regards,
P.S. Don’t forget to download your free green living handbook “Live Well, Live Green” here.
Related:
- Is it OK to exercise on heavy smog days? Find out here.
- Get rid of all the toxic products in your life (you’ll be shocked at where they hide!). It’s easy – see how here!
