In the past few years, China has emerged as an industrial power; however, this emergence is also followed by the environmental damage. Today, the environmental degradation is much severe in China with international and domestic repercussion that has caused long term burden on the Chinese people. The scale and speed of the rise of China as an economic power has also welcomed the air pollution. In other words, the greatest achievement has become the greatest burden in china. The double-digit economic growth is a result of urbanization and industrial expansion that requires immense amount of energy which is available from the dirtiest and most readily available source, i.e., coal. In addition, the coal provides more than 80% of the electricity in China and has the greatest share in contribution to air pollution (Green Peace).
Air pollution is a serious problem that should not be ignored as it possesses risk of economy and human health. Moreover, air pollution has long term impact that is established with the passage of time. In addition, the air pollution is often the basis of non-specific issues like weakened immunity. Many cities in China like Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing is under smog where the child grows up with the risk of asthma and many other respiratory illnesses. In particular, Xi’an, Guangzhou, Shanghai and Beijing carries concentration level of PM2.5 that is more than the air quality guidelines of World Health Organization (WHO) (NERC). Other cities with higher level of PM2.5, highlighted by the recent statistics of World Health Organization, include Xingtai, Boading, Shijiazhuang, Handan, Tangshan, Hengshui, Langfang, Jinan, Zhengzhou and Xi’an (Fallows). The higher of PM2.5 carries greater health risk to the cerebrovascular diseases, cardiovascular diseases, premature death and cancer.
Works Cited
Fallows, James. “2 Charts That Put the Chinese Pollution Crisis in Perspective”. 18 April 2014. Web. 30 October 2014.
Green Peace. “The Problems of Air Pollution”. 2012. Web. 30 October 2014.
NERC. “Atmospheric Pollution and Human Health in a Chinese Megacity”. July 2014. Web. 30 October 2014.
