China as a Global Leader in Air Pollution - Research Paper Example

Pollution, more so air pollution in China has become an epidemic in most Chinese cities in the recent past with a report stating that China lists sixteen cities out of the twenty most polluted cities in the world. It is no doubt that China is one of the fastest-growing economies of the world and with this exponential growth, major institutions in the world including the United Nations have raised some concerns over what seems like little or lack of proper environmental management policies in China. The epicenter of this matter revolves around waste management since virtually every industrial and human activity leads to the production of waste. Since a certain class of wastes can pose great danger to the environment, it is imperative that the Chinese government take a proactive role in investigating the major causes of air pollution in china.

China produces a variety of wastes ranging from electronic waste, industrial wastes, to nuclear wastes. Our major concern here is the rampant air pollution in China, how it has influenced the lifestyles of Chinese citizens and other neighboring countries like India. In the year 2012, the president of China Medical Association, Zhong Nanshan, raised his concerns over what he termed as one of the major medical disasters facing China at the time. He mentioned cardiovascular diseases and lung cancer as the main vectors through which air pollution manifests itself. Air pollution is specifically high in the urban areas of China like the major cities than in the rural areas due to the high rate of emissions from manufacturing industries and motor vehicles. Research conducted indicated that incidences of lung cancer and cardiovascular diseases were especially high in the cities because of the prevalence of air pollution.

In major climatic conferences and seminars, China has always taken the blame as the world’s leading country in terms of carbon emissions. Many nations and recognized organizations have accused China of being lenient to those whose emissions surpass the international standards within its jurisdiction. In addition, China has not fully embraced the thorny issue of air pollution with the seriousness that it deserves as seen in her standards of gauging the pollution levels. The government of China did not until lately including PM.5 and the Ozone in measuring the index of the air quality. This laxity in combating air pollution really tainted the image of the Chinese government and its products the world over. It was the renowned environmentalists around the world that spearheaded a campaign that would see China change its course for the better, even if the final destination is still far.

Rooij (2006) categorizes air pollution in the People’s Republic of China into emissions from factories, motor vehicle emissions, and construction firms. By the end of 2006, the emissions of Sulfur dioxide in china had reached a maximum high after which it reduced significantly. Before the period, this chemical was responsible for the pollution of a considerable volume of air with its worst victim being the Ozone layer. The construction and furniture industries are prone to using formaldehyde in adhesion and preservation. Due to the volatile nature of these compounds, indoor air pollution has been inevitable in most Chinese homes.

It is understood that rampant air pollution in China and the classification of China as the number one air polluter on earth comes with serious implications ranging from deterioration of human health, creation of inhabitable environments, to the depletion of natural resources. Most cities in China have an appreciable amount of air pollution but exceptionally high are the Chinese cities of Beijing and Xi’an. In 2006 global pollution rating by cities indicated that Xi’an was the second city with the worst air quality in the world. Most Chinese citizens have had to endure serious health complications because of inhaling contaminated air. A classic example is a drastic rise in the incidence of lung cancer and other cardiovascular ailments in China in the recent past. The number of deaths resulting from such complications due to emissions has surpassed those earlier reported because of tobacco usage. Another point worth noting is the effect of this poor air quality on babies and young kids. Stein (2013) states that China reports over a million deaths each year due to air pollution-related illnesses. These include young children and small babies who need exceptionally high quality of air for proper growth of both their physical and mental aspects (Wong, 2013). This considerable effect on infant mortality costs China a great deal as far as investing for future generations is concerned and needs careful attention. One last aspect that is of global concern is the Chinese contribution to climate change. With this regrettably poor quality of air, it is no doubt that China takes the lead as far as global warming is concerned. Global warming affects everyone that inhabits the planet earth and so China’s emission is a major concern with reference to the health of people in other nations.

In conclusion, it is better to weigh the economic benefits that the Chinese government accrues out of the processes that lead to massive emissions. Although the Chinese government has taken considerable steps in the positive direction, a lot more still need careful attention to ensure that the citizens of China and the global population in general are free of highly polluted air for a prosperous world.