China air pollution case study Flashcards
Where is China?
EDC in eastern Asia
population of 1.4 billion (most populous country in the world)
life expectancy 75 (men), 78 (women)
What is smog?
Photochemical smog is a type of air pollution caused by solar radiation reacting with nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds (primary pollutants) to form ozone (secondary pollutant).
Also caused by carbon particulates from the burning of coal
How are primary pollutants introduced to the atmosphere?
Car emissions and industrial processes - UV light can split nitrogen dioxide into nitric oxide and monoatomic oxygen, and monoatomic oxygen can react with oxygen gas to form ozone (secondary pollutant) - mixture of primary and secondary pollutants is called photochemical smog
What are the 2 key sources of primary pollutants?
Car exhausts producing nitrogen oxides and coal burning (from coal fired power stations) releasing particulates of soot into the atmosphere. Smallest PM2.5 particles are the most damaging for human health.
What is PM2.5?
Particulate matter - particles or liquid droplets with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less - toxic chemicals - can be inhaled or even enter the bloodstream - often more deadly than larger particles - form from chemical reactions between pollutants - cannot see as particles are too small
Why has there been a decline in air quality in China
Rapid economic development since 1979 and this has led to very rapid increases in manufacturing and industrial sectors. These sectors (as well as more cars as middle class incomes have risen) have led to severe decline in air quality - worry that air quality will now have a long term effect on life expectancy
Where are the highest PM2.5 levels found in China?
south eastern side of the country - provinces such as Henan and Beijing have 70.0 micrograms or more per m3
How does ozone impact the incidence of lung problems?
Damages lining of lungs and bronchi, aggravates existing conditions such as asthma and can lead to permanent scarring of the airways. Also makes people more sensitive to allergens and can trigger allergic reactions, making it more difficult to inhale and exhale
How does PM2.5 impact the incidence of cancers in China?
PM2.5 particles become lodged in the alveoli of the lungs and cannot be dislodged by cilia or mucus formation because of their small size. Their presence is associated with the development of cancers, heart disease and lung disease. If they enter the bloodstream they can become lodged in other organs causing other diseases and cancers
WHO sets safe levels of PM2.5 as 10 micrograms per cubic metre, but in some Chinese districts values of 1,000micrograms per m3 are recorded (100x safe level)
97% of the Chinese people are exposed to concentrations of PM2.5 - could be decreasing lifespans by 2 years
6.5% of Chinese GDP lost per year due to air pollution
4.3 million new cancer patients in China in 2015, including 730,000 cases of lung cancer - 36% of world’s total
Cancer is responsible for around 1/4 of Chinese deaths - massive burden on country’s medical services
What was announced in 2016?
Cancer is leading cause of death in Beijing - clear links between cancer and air quality
What are the national solutions to this problem in China?
International School of Beijing spent £3 million on a pair of air domes with hospital-grade air filtration systems (other colleges have also done this)
Up to 15-day sentences for company bosses who do not complete Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) - no upper limit for fining polluting companies - although legislation is only as good as its enforcement
More investment into renewable energy sources (hydro, wind, solar) - to invest £292bn by 2020
Red alerts on air quality issued by national government
Ban on even and odd numbered cars on alternate days in Beijing - wealthy people easily get round
Compulsory wearing of face masks - usually inadequate to trap PM2.5 or smaller
Lung cancer screening programmes
Use of artificial intelligence (1 in 5 doctors had been assaulted by a patient)- pressure on hospitals rising, especially with ageing population - AI doctors
What are global solutions to the problem of air quality
Paris agreement - targets to reduce emissions by certain amounts by certain dates (varying from country to country)
World cancer day - 4th February - raises awareness - no official events planned for China
EU cap and trade scheme
2012 - 37 countries and EU states agreed to cut GHG emissions by 18% of 1990 levels by 2020
