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hatrack

(59,442 posts)
Wed Apr 17, 2013, 06:42 PM Apr 2013

In 2008 60% Of Rice Samples In 3 Provinces Contaminated W. Cadmium; Cancer Villages Still Producing

EDIT

Five years ago, a soil survey taken from rice in three of China’s largest agricultural provinces shocked Chinese consumers. Sixty percent of the rice samples showed excessive amounts of cadmium, a heavy metal that causes bone and kidney damage. At the time, Chinese scientists openly discussed the widespread contamination of China’s food supply. But these days, they’re not talking. Several scientists declined interviews with Marketplace. That’s because late last year, China’s communist party declared national soil surveys ‘state secrets.’

Revealing China’s ‘state secrets’ can send you to prison. American scientist Peter Green says in the case of Chromium-6, which polluted the soil in Xinglong Village, it’s undoubtedly been absorbed by the rice grown there. "Rice, like all plants, takes up water from its roots," Green says, "and Chromium-6 — hexavalent chromium — is very soluble in water, and will get into the plants. And that’s unfortunate, because it can get into the food chain and be eaten by humans or perhaps other animals.”

Back in Xinglong village, the 300-million-pound hill of Chromium-6 waste is now gone. The company that created it, LuLiang Peace Technology, removed the waste a few months ago.

But farmer Wu Shuliang says his well water is still contaminated. I ask him to show me. Wu grabs a 10-foot long stick and dips it down into the well. When he pulls it up, the end of the stick is covered with a thick, mustard-yellow chemical sludge. Marketplace contacted LuLiang Peace Technology, and the factory manager, Mr. Qian, spoke to us. After we told him we were a news organization, he hung up and didn’t answer any more calls. The local government also ignored Marketplace’s repeated requests for interviews.

EDIT

http://www.marketplace.org/topics/world/chinas-toxic-harvest-growing-tainted-food-cancer-villages

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In 2008 60% Of Rice Samples In 3 Provinces Contaminated W. Cadmium; Cancer Villages Still Producing (Original Post) hatrack Apr 2013 OP
There is nothing you can trust from China. Manufacturing will return because of this. They are mother earth Apr 2013 #1
It reminds me of Canada. n/t cprise Apr 2013 #2
I wonder how many years it will be XemaSab Apr 2013 #3
Nah ... just more migration to healthier countries ... Nihil Apr 2013 #5
Very tragic Yo_Mama Apr 2013 #4

mother earth

(6,002 posts)
1. There is nothing you can trust from China. Manufacturing will return because of this. They are
Wed Apr 17, 2013, 06:49 PM
Apr 2013

simply criminal.

XemaSab

(60,212 posts)
3. I wonder how many years it will be
Thu Apr 18, 2013, 04:22 AM
Apr 2013

before the population starts to decline due to pollution.

Either overtly through miscarriages and early deaths, or just through people not wanting to raise kids in the middle of Mordor.

 

Nihil

(13,508 posts)
5. Nah ... just more migration to healthier countries ...
Fri Apr 19, 2013, 04:44 AM
Apr 2013

... i.e., like they do at the moment but at an increased scale ...

Yo_Mama

(8,303 posts)
4. Very tragic
Thu Apr 18, 2013, 09:19 AM
Apr 2013

I am sure popular protests will slowly force the Chinese government to institute pollution controls just as they did here in the US, but in the meantime, a lot of people will suffer.

The company referenced RE the Chromium makes feed additives and VITAMINS, among other things:
http://peacetech.en.alibaba.com/company_profile.html

An increasingly large part of the cost differential between manufacturing in the US and manufacturing in China are the anti-pollution requirements in the US since wages have increased so much. I think the Chinese government is afraid to impose too much control for fear that it would overburden a weakening economy.

This is why I want nothing to do with most Chinese products. They themselves don't know what's in them.

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