heavy metals pollute the soil in China

A news story today:

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304626304579507...

China Details Vast Extent of Soil Pollution

About a Fifth of Nation's Arable Land Is Contaminated With Heavy Metals

"The extent of China's soil pollution, long guarded as a state secret, was laid out in an official report that confirmed deep-seated fears about contaminated farmland and the viability of the country's food supply.

Nearly one-fifth of the country's arable land is polluted, officials said in the report, shedding unexpected light on the scale of the problem—a legacy of China's three decades of breakneck economic growth and industrial expansion.

The most common inorganic pollutants found in China's soil were the heavy metals cadmium, nickel and arsenic, according to Thursday's report. Cadmium and arsenic, both known to cause chronic health problems, are byproducts of mining."

The lesson we should all learn: we need government regulation to protect the environment: the soil that our crops grow in, the water that we fish, the air that we breathe. It's time for the United States to tighten regulations that were loosened when the Halliburton Loophole was put into law, that exempts the gas industry from regulation by the Safe Drinking Water Act. Failure to do that will mean more cadmium-laced rice in Hunan, more MCHM in Charleston drinking water, more trihalomethanes in the Monongahela, more oil spills in the Gulf of Mexico.

http://www.theatlanticcities.com/arts-and-lifestyle/2014/04/grim-ph...

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Permalink Reply by the two of us on April 20, 2014 at 1:46am
Ditto
Permalink Reply by Jack Straw on April 18, 2014 at 3:34pm

RE: "The most common inorganic pollutants found in China's soil were the heavy metals cadmium, nickel and arsenic, according to Thursday's report. Cadmium and arsenic, both known to cause chronic health problems, are byproducts of mining."

Nickel and Cadmium pollution from creating all those NiCad Batteries.

Arsenic from the mining and the processing.

Next to be found will be the pollution resulting from the mining and manufacturing of the lithium Ion batteries.

All those hybrid and electric vehicles that the Greenies so love might pollute less when driven, but a tremendous amount of pollution occurred in simply getting the exotic materials that first gets them on the road. Hybrid and electric vehicles are born as polluters ... but most of that pollution stays in China .... I guess this is OK for the Greenies.

Then there is the pollution from the Chinese manufacture of Solar Cells; but since most of the pollution stays in China where they are manufactured .... I guess this is OK for the Greenies.

Then there is all the pollution associated with the manufacture of the wind energy turbines  ... but most of that pollution stays in China .... I guess this is OK for the Greenies..

That pollution in China will not all (nor always) stay in China.

Give me Clean Green Natural Gas ...CH4 + 2 O2 → CO2 + 2 H2O

Burn Natural Gas and you get mainly water (H2O) and CO2  (plant food).

All IMHO,

                   JS

Permalink Reply by MJ on April 19, 2014 at 3:43am

Jack,

Thanks for the intelligent and informative post.  Have'nt seen you around in a while.  Your insight is appreciated.

Permalink Reply by Mark McGrail on April 19, 2014 at 4:38am

I assume from the post that Paul does not believe that the shale industry is regulated. That's nomsense and an old fractivist, leftist, environmentalist claim; which has been debunked over and over and over and ... you get the point.

In short, the oil and gas industry, including shale development is regulated under no less than eight (or more) federal statutes. Plus a plethora of state and local laws and regulations. Operators in Ohio must abide by some of the most stringent regulations in the nation, PA is not to far behind. Ohio and PA are also pro-active and are continually "tweaking" the regulations to meet new environmental issues etc.

Posts such as this just more fear mongering, and not helpful.

Permalink Reply by Summer Johnston on April 19, 2014 at 5:43am

You know, I'm not going to summarily dismiss Paul's posting. All the regulations in place are meaningless unless A) companies comply with them and B) they are enforced.

It hasn't been all that long ago that Ben Lupo directed employees to dump brine into the Mahoning River.

It may be a matter, to quote Bill Clinton, "of what is, is" but once the damage is done the landowner will be the one left to suffer, as will those with well water.

Everyone is complaining with how the oil/gas companies are jacking landowners around on the royalties due them. Is it unreasonable to consider the possibility they'd damage the environment to get what they want?

 

 

 

 

Permalink Reply by Dan on April 19, 2014 at 6:39am

Summer,

There is a big difference between more regulatioin and more oversite.  Paul is suggesting more regulation, you question enforcement.  His post even says- 

"It's time for the United States to tighten regulations that were loosened when the Halliburton Loophole was put into law, that exempts the gas industry from regulation by the Safe Drinking Water Act. Failure to do that will mean more cadmium-laced rice in Hunan, more MCHM in Charleston drinking water"

Wow, if the gas industry in th US is causing cadnium to poison little chineese school children we should just round them up and shot them!  Have a discussion as to wether industry fines are unjustly low when an illegal dump is made and there might be an inteligent discussion.  Regulation, enforcement and just punishment for diliberately breaking rules are all diferent animals.  Paul tries to tie any negitive to further his cause even when unrelated. 

Permalink Reply by Summer Johnston on April 19, 2014 at 2:53pm

Fine. Perhaps it's more oversight that we need.

My point is that I think we can become a tad overzealous in hopes that this time, good things--wealth--can happen for eastern Ohio and western PA.

But I think shale was a big deal in Kansas--until late last year when the gascos pulled out from there.

If there's product to be produced here, we should treat it like a treasure and demand a little respect for both the product and the land. Because when the gascos go, the land will be all that will be left us. Not them. Us.

While Paul might have expressed his opinion more clearly, the result is the same. Don't jack with our land.

 

 

Permalink Reply by Ragnars Repo on April 19, 2014 at 6:53am
More regulation only allows a few more wolves to watch the flock. Capitalism is what is, is. This country needs to decide what exactly it means to have a capitalist economy. If it means get rich by any way possible than we will just continue on the path we have. If it means cut all corners to bring the stock price up one penny than we will continue on the path we have. If we continue to allow our politicians to pick winners as opposed to letting business rise and fall on its own merit, we will continue on the path we have. Capitalism without morality is dead and morality is what needs to be restored.
Permalink Reply by T. Alexander on April 19, 2014 at 8:10am

Well stated, Summer...it's always amazing to me the virtue we ascribe to those who we desperately hope will bring us riches.

Permalink Reply by DEAN on April 20, 2014 at 3:45am
have never had money but now that everything is paid off and I got a boat and can go fishing my heart attack is going away thank you gas and oil $$$$$$$$
Permalink Reply by Mark McGrail on April 20, 2014 at 10:58am

Comparing industrial development in China to shale development in Ohio is silly. It's nothing more than fear mongering to suggest that it is imminent that something similar will occur here.

Then of course there is the mention of "Ben Lupo"; as if everyone in the oil and gas industry will act in a similar manner., everyone in the industry has no morals and a complete disregard forregulations Painting everyone in an industry with a broad brush is unfair and lazy. It is also unfair to imply that our regulators are incompetent or corrupt.

The lack of intellectual effort here is appalling.

Permalink Reply by Summer Johnston on April 20, 2014 at 3:18pm

Then of course there is the mention of "Ben Lupo"; as if everyone in the oil and gas industry will act in a similar manner., everyone in the industry has no morals and a complete disregard for regulations Painting everyone in an industry with a broad brush is unfair and lazy.

Almost as naive as painting everyone in the industry as being upright corporate citizens. That's why some people are lamenting the leases they signed with "enhancement clauses," because the gascos were so above board and fair in deductions. Don't bother putting words in someone's mouth that weren't uttered. Please. Just because there are those who express concern and diligence regarding environmental concerns is no reason to stoop to childish characterizations.

It is also unfair to imply that our regulators are incompetent or corrupt.

You're kidding, right?

The lack of intellectual effort here is appalling.

Isn't it though?

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