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East Asia and Southeast Asia
Environmental Case Study
China's Pollution Problems China is the largest country in Asia
and home to more people than any other nation in the world-1.3 billion, or 20 percent of Earth's entire population. Today China is a rising star. Its economy is booming, and many of its people, particularly those in cities, are becoming wealthier.
Yet China's progress has come at a price. This vast country is home to some of the most toxic air and water in the world. The Chinese government is trying, with great difficulty, to solve its polluti'on problems.
Dirty Air and Water China's air quality is horrendous. The country is home to 16 of the 20 most polluted cities in the world. Beijing, the nation's capital, is so bathed in smog it has been called the "air pollution capital of the world." On many days, a person standing on the ground in Beijing cannot see the tops of the skyscrapers because of the thick, brown haze.
The smog-filled air takes its toll on the health of the Chinese people. The leading cause of death in China is respiratory
disease. Bronchitis, lung cancer, tuberculosis, and other lung diseases kill some 400,000 people a year.
China's noxious air does not just stay in China. It blows east over Japan and other Asian countries. It even blows across the Pacific Ocean to California. The U.s. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that 25 percent of the particulate matter-small particles or liquid droplets-in the skies over Los Angeles is from China.
The water in China is at least as bad as the air. Three-fourths of the water in China's rivers is too polluted to be safe for drinking or fishing. Most of China's sewage flows straight into rivers and lakes, which makes the water unsafe. Yet half the people use water that is contaminated with human or animal waste. Tens of thousands of children die each year from contaminated water.
Sources of Pollution One of the sources of pollution in China is coal. China relies heavily on inefficient coal-burning power
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plants. Coal-fueled power stations spew large quantities of carbon dioxide- a greenhouse gas- and sulfur, which is an ingredient in acid rain. China's sulfur emissions are the highest in the world, and acid rain falls on more than 30 percent of mainland China. Acid rain pollutes rivers and lakes and damages buildings, crops, and trees.
Some of China's pollution is created because the country is growing more affluent. As the economy grows, energy needs are increasing- and so are toxic emissions.
Car use is also on the rise in China. Today only 3 of every 1,000 Chinese people own a car. As the country becomes richer, however, more people want to own cars, and more cars will mean more ~ir pollution.
The Cost of Pollution China's pollution costs the country much money- about $1.4 trillion a year. That is the cost of direct damage from pollution, such as crop damage, medical bills, and lost work from illness.
The Chinese government is taking aggressive action to clean up the pollution. It is spending billions of dollars and pass-
ing new laws designed to rid its skies and waterways of toxins.
Gradual Change Progress in cleaning up the pollution has been slow. Local officials do not always carry out the environmental changes that China's leaders promote. This is partly because many people are poor and unemployment is high, especially in rural areas. With the average head of household making just over $1,000 a year, local officials are usually more concerned with creating jobs than cleaning up the air and water. They often ignore environmental laws.
Although change has been slow, it is happening. Many Chinese are beginning to show more concern for the environment. The Chinese government is allowing environmental organizations to work in the country to teach people about the problems.
Foreign governments are pressuring China to clean up its act. More foreign companies are setting up shop in China, and they are bringing with them environmental know-how and cleaner technologies.
I It's a Fact 1.
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1. Ancient China was a scientifically advanced society. The Chinese invented paper, printing, kites, gunpowder, compasses, and even fireworks.
2. The largest dam in the world is under construction on the Chang Jiang. Three Gorges Dam is so massive that astronauts can see it from space. The dam set a world record for the most concrete used in a single structure- 21 million cubic yards (16 million cubic meters). The dam will provide as much electricity as 15 coal-fired power plants. Many people oppose the dam, citing environmental concerns and fear of what will happen if the dam breaks.
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:' ...... ( Endangered Pandas ) ....... " . ,
The Giant Panda is one of the world's rarest mammals. Pandas used to be found throughout southern and eastern China, Myanmar, and North Vietnam, but now they live in only a few remote mountain areas in China. As people have destroyed the forests, the panda's habitat has shrunk. Today they are classified as an endangered species,
The number of pandas has dwindled, partly because they can no longer travel from one mount~in peak to another in search of bamboo, their favorite food. As people have filled in the valleys, the shy animals have stayed away, remaining in the mountains. If all of the bamboo in an area dies, as sometimes happens, pandas will not pass through a valley filled with people in search of food. They starve instead. One idea to help pandas is to create bamboo-filled corridors that the bears can travel through to move from one mountaintop to another in search of food.
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ff{l Review the Facts
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Directions: Read the information about China and examine the map. Then answer these questions.
1. Identifying What are three health problems caused by air pollution in China?
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2. Identifying What is one source of water pollution in China?
3. Determining Cause and Effect How do coal-burning factories pollute the air and water?
4. Explaining Why do local Chinese officials often ignore environmental laws?
5. Describing What are two ways that forces outside China are helping improve the environment?
A.
B.
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Investigate Acid Rain
t(/ For Investigation
When cars or factories bum fossil fuels, gases are released into the air. Some of these gases combine with water to form acid rain. Acid rain is any kind of acidic precipitation that includes rain, smog, mist, fog, sleet, or snow. Over many years, acid rain can harm plants, kill fish, and damage buildings, statues, and roads. In this activity, you will see how acid rain damages stone and metal.
What to Do
• four glass jars • water • lemon juice or vinegar • masking tape • pen • paper or notebook • plastic wrap • two pennies • two 2-inch pieces of chalk
1. Using masking tape, label two jars "water" and two jars "acid." Place a 2-inch piece of chalk in one of the water jars, and the other piece of chalk in one of the acid jars. Place a copper penny in each of the remaining two jars. Chalk is similar to limestone, a material used to make sculptures and buildings. Pennies are made of copper as well as other metals used in building construction.
2. Fill the jars marked "water" with tap water. Fill the jars marked" acid" with lemon juice or vinegar- two acids that simulate acid rain.
Assessment Checklist Assess your experiment using the checklist below:
D Followed directions and safety procedures
D Carefully examined all four jars
D Explained lab results in complete sentences
D Cleaned up work area
3. Watch the chalk jars for several minutes. Do you see changes? Allow the jars to sit untouched overnight, and check them in the morning. Remove the chalk from the jars. Are the two pieces the same size? Which one changed?
4. Cover the top of each penny jar with plastic wrap to prevent evaporation. Place the penny jars on a shelf out of the way. Check them again in five days. What changes do you see?
5. Describe your results. Explain what happened in your experiment.
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