Chinese Smog
NBC News looks at China's horrific smog problem, including pictures that try to tell the story. I've been in Los Angeles back in the '60s on a bad smog day and that seems to pale in comparison to China today. Last time I was in L.A. was during the riots and the air seemed quite clear in comparison to the '60s.
What I don't get is all the Chinese in the pictures wearing dust masks. I don't see how that would help as smog is more chemical based than anything else. I could see it if it was more along the lines of dust. In that case a dust mask might help.
I've also always wondered about authorities telling people to stay inside during severe smog alerts. It would seem to me the air inside comes from outside so what's the difference? Then again, I remember L.A. back in the day with my eyes stinging from smog and it being sometimes hard to breath. But once inside a house, it seemed better. I've since come to think it was the air conditioners that cleaned the air in the homes. The air is run through cooling coils and it condenses the air to water. the pollution going into the condensed water. Makes for a nice air filter. Seemed to work back then, anyway.
The Chinese are going to have to do something to clean their air. They're killing themselves. I'm surprised their government hadn't taken stronger measures as their government has the power to do it. Look how far we've gone in this country cleaning up smog. Wouldn't it be easier with a slightly more authoritarian government than ours?
Then again, that could be easier said than done. I recall reading that something like 6 weeks before the Beijing Olympics, the Chinese government pretty much shut down every factory within 100 or so miles of Beijing in order to reduce smog for the Olympics. It didn't seem to do much good.
posted by Fred Mangels @ 2:24 PM
14 comments
14 Comments:
It's not just the smog you might have seen in LA (much of it from cars and trucks---especially diesel trucks but what China has a problem with is their coal-fired electricity generating plants. Burning coal throws all sorts of nasty chemicals into the atmosphere, some which can be seen with the naked eye, some which may need special filters for cameras to detect but the reason people wear the little paper or cloth filters over their nose and mouth is that the plants also generate fine particulate matter which if inhaled can cause cancer.
Here's an article from NYT which is pretty recent:
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/18/world/asia/china-coal-health-smog-pollution.html?_r=0
Here's a site with a photo...unfortunately, it can be that bad:
http://energydesk.greenpeace.org/2013/12/12/map-health-impact-chinas-coal-plants/
Here's another link:
http://inhabitat.com/air-pollution-levels-in-china-reach-20-times-human-health-safety-limit/
Since you seem to like to do research, do check out the NASA Earth Observatory. I've seen some photos on it about China's smog before, but it's really just a joy to explore, see the world in a different way:
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/?eocn=topnav&eoci=home
Like some athletes who didn't want to compete in the highly polluted water in Rio, there may be those who chose not to risk their health to compete in China.
The US Dept of State has alerts for all foreign countries, what to avoid, where to avoid, what to do and not do...and I imagine the advice for China and Beijing may include advice about air quality.
Tesla's big competitor, China, already has 3 major EV car manufacturers selling hundreds of thousands units.
Tesla is small in comparison, it is why Musk is buying up businesses to appear bigger, but really he is a con man.
China manufactures all the goodies the usa is forbidden to manufacture yet forces us to purchase.
China has cleaned their air a few times, when it's literally at sky rocket toxisity. They pride themselves on their skills & capablities to do so. They have read the studies, performed their own studies, know exactly how the "acceptable levels of toxisity" was tweeked for people & financial control, & are remaining autonomous in deed.
Lung Cancer should be their number one crisis issue, but because everyone smokes, cancer is hardly a mention. Strange how that works isn't it.
Worth digging deeper into. "China, Russia, USA, Indonesia and Japan should theoretically have the highest rates of lung cancer because they have the highest rate of smoking. Except they don't."
https://www.sott.net/article/338885-A-comprehensive-review-of-the-many-health-benefits-of-smoking-Tobacco
(Smog should be a factor too, same principle)
And worth noting that smoking rates are at all time lows in this country, yet lung cancer is still one of the most widely diagnosed and reported cancers.
Worth noting what happens to the environment when the free market goes completely unregulated or is unimportant to a government.
Well, we're talking of communists here. Not sure how much government you want.
Fred, do Chinese smoke Marlboros or Camels......OR DO THEY SMOKE CHINESE DRAG?
DIFFERENCE IS WHAT IS ADDED TO THE TOBACCO TO ADDICT THE CONSUMER!!!!
Back before social media, no doubt.....Today in business, not so much......Overly regulated beyond the necessary environmental needs!
When did gubbamint ever have ED?
Gubbamint will use a stiff fist when it can't get it up genetalisticly.
SO Fred you are a Libertarian. Aren't Libertarians against laws like the Clean Air Act that have been so successful in cleaning up our environment?
No. Not against environmental laws. Just not hysterical about them as you seem to be.
Exactly, Fred. Astma & lung cancer have both sky rocketed.
HOJ, they don't add anything to make them more addicting. They won their claim against tobacco by foul play. Vapers know dam well how easy it is to wean off of nicotine. Nicotine is a dependency drug, like caffeine is. It settles the nerves, stimulates cognitive abilities, softens schitzophrenia, and the big pharma wants it all to themselves.
8:46, that is political all or nothing propaganda. Libertarians want honest studies & conclusions without political agendas. The all or nothing propagandizing is old, cheap, insulting & just plain idiotic.
Libertarians enjoy innovations like HVAQ, freedom of choice for all citizens especially home & business owners. They do not wish to force anything on anybody, unlike the liberals. Libertarians fully appreciate the protection of property rights. The mind, voice & body are the most prized private property of all. Choosing what's right for your own private property, but not forcing your own wishes & conclusions upon others, is what libertarians protect.
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