The Chinese Ministry of Environmental Protection and the Ministry of Land and Resources released the results of a survey of land across the country, covering approximately 630 km2. Conducted from April 2005 to December 2013, the survey showed 16% of China’s soil is polluted. The soil is considered slightly polluted in 11% of the country, and pollution is considered to be light, medium and severe in 2%, 2% and 1%, respectively. The report indicates that the primary sources of pollution are human industrial and agricultural activities, with 19% of farmland, 10% of woodland, and 10% of grassland polluted. Found at 83% of the polluted sites are inorganic contaminants, with cadmium, nickel and arsenic the most prevalent. Soils in provinces in the central and southwest of the country have high levels of metals. Northeast China and the Yangtze and Pearl River Deltas—current and former industrial areas—are severely polluted. The Ministry of Environmental Protection is developing an action plan to counter soil pollution. Other measures by the Ministries include further surveys of land, soil rehabilitation projects and tightened regulations for waste disposal.

Source: Xinhua