The main environmental hazard to people in China is showing dissent...
So where is that on the map?
Oh it's all over isn't it.
China’s many environmental hazards are well documented, as are its government’s less than transparent approach to governing. But one enterprising local start-up has managed to address both in a new app which uses publicly available information to let users check whether they’re about to move next door to a landfill. Danger …
I can say most of China's populated areas suffer from pollution. I often visit GuangXi Province, in the south-west of the country, and the river that flows through NanNing, the capital, is so heavily polluted it is almost possible to walk across the surface in places.
I have seen the river burning, even.
Unfortunately, Chairman Mao's proclamation that there would be an iron smelter in everyone's back yard was the beginning of the heavily polluted period.
The other problem is that the building zoning regulations are weak and poorly enforced, read bribes vary planning conditions, which means residential properties can end up surrounded by industry,
The final problem is lack of pride through ownership. In countries such as China, Russia and VietNam the people, through the State, own the land and individuals and companies lease the land from the provincial level governments. This means a leaseholder really has no incentive not to pollute the land and therefore conditions can deteriorate badly, quickly.
I didn't know Sheffield was in China...
I thought it actually might have been, until I discovered it was just an urban myth. Hooray for the Internet!