Water/Wastewater
China river runs red from pollution
Jul 29 2014
The Wenzhou River in east China's Zhejiang province turned blood red in the early hours of the morning some time last week due to an unknown contaminant. Witnesses claim that the river was still its usual colour at 4am local time, but flowed red several hours later. It has sparked a new environmental concern for the people of China.
As well as the bright red colour, some residents in the area of the river have complained of a strong, acrid smell. Initial investigations performed by the local environmental protection bureau have found no sign of any chemical discharge from the factories along the river. Factories that line the river include those that manufacture food colouring, clothes and paper.
Although the contaminant responsible for the sudden change in water colour has not been located, Yixiu W, who tracks water pollution issues for Greenpeace, said the latest incident is a sign that urban residents are being increasingly affected by environmental issues. Previously, environmental issues mostly affected those that relied on agriculture for their lifestyles, however, cities are now experiencing more problems.
Wenzhou is a the commercial hub on China's eastern coast and so this incident of water pollution could have a large impact. According to environmentalist Ma Jun, this latest incident marks an important time in China's battle against pollution, with the next 20 years being critical.
This is just the latest in a string of incidents that have impacted water quality and the environment. The Yangtze River also turned red in 2012 following the illegal dumping of chemicals by a factory. In 2013 over 2,000 dead pigs were found in a river in Shanghai.
On top of these incidents, China's government has also identified a huge number of "cancer villages", where high pollution levels mean there are increased rates of cancer.
Water pollution is a major issue throughout the nation and is impacted by the high levels of air pollution in many areas. China has now renewed its commitment to dealing with environmental issues in a bid to reduce overall pollution.
Digital Edition
AET 28.2 April/May 2024
May 2024
Business News - Teledyne Marine expands with the acquisition of Valeport - Signal partners with gas analysis experts in Korea Air Monitoring - Continuous Fine Particulate Emission Monitor...
View all digital editions
Events
Jul 10 2024 Birmingham, UK
Jul 21 2024 Cape Town, South Africa
Australasian Waste & Recycling Expo
Jul 24 2024 Sydney, Australia
Jul 30 2024 Jakarta, Indonesia
China Energy Summit & Exhibition
Jul 31 2024 Beijing, China