China’s Air Quality Worsens for First Half of 2010
Residents in some of China’s cities have been breathing a little bit harder this year. On Monday, China’s Ministry of Environmental Protection said air quality has fallen in 2010. Figures also show that less than half of the country’s total water supply is drinkable. Here’s more. Pollution is getting worse across China, according to a statement from China’s Ministry of Environmental Protection. Among the causes are more cars on the road, growth from the economic stimulus, and sandstorms. The statement, released on Monday, says the number of “good air quality days” in 113 cities has dropped by 0.3 per cent for the first half of this year, compared to last year. The report says this is the first time that the number of good air quality days has fallen since 2005. Monday’s statement is an overall assessment of the country’s level of pollution. It says that while there were some improvements, the country still faces a, quote, “grim” situation. More half of China’s total water supply is undrinkable. And nearly a quarter of China’s surface water is considered unsafe even for industrial use. Acid rain is also threatening major cities like Shanghai. Over the past three decades, China’s environment has been plagued by worsening pollution as the communist regime pushes for economic growth but fails to enforce environmental regulations.
