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China’s Chemical Challenges

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China’s Chemical Challenges

Chinadialogue,

5 min read
5 take-aways
Audio & text

What's inside?

China has 46,000 known chemicals in circulation, but regulators only know the dangers associated with 3,000 of them.

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Editorial Rating

8

Qualities

  • Comprehensive
  • Eye Opening
  • For Beginners

Recommendation

China is a prodigious manufacturer, and modern manufacturing requires prodigious use of chemicals. Traditionally, China’s regulatory emphasis has been on the combustible, explosive or extremely toxic chemicals used in manufacturing. Avoiding disastrous workplace accidents was the goal. The government has paid less attention to the slow-growing, long-term effects that industrial chemicals can have on people’s health and that of the surrounding environment. Chinadialogue’s collection of bilingual reports on China’s struggles – and victories – over chemical pollution will be eye-opening to international consumers.

Summary

Much of the pollution from chemical manufacturing has moved from the developed world to developing countries such as China, which lacks a clear set of national laws regarding harmful chemicals. China’s Regulations on the Safety Administration of Dangerous Chemicals does regulate the use of about 3,000 substances. But the government inventory lists 46,000 chemicals currently in circulation, and the market contains possibly hundreds of thousands that aren’t listed. Lawmakers’ focus has traditionally been on preventing industrial accidents, causing regulators to ignore chemicals that other countries have designated harmful...

About the Authors

The authors write or edit for Chinadialogue, a nonprofit organization founded by Isabel Hilton that provides independent reports about China’s impact on the environment.

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