China's Soil Pollution: Farms on the Frontline

China's soil pollution is much worse than previously thought (“China gets serious about its pollutant-laden soil,” C. Larson, News & Analysis, 28 March, p. [1415][1]). A report released on 17 April admitted that 16.1% of the Chinese soil was polluted, including 19.4% of farmland, 10.0% of forest land, 10.4% of grassland, and 11.4% of unused land ([ 1 ][2]). Of the contaminated soil samples, 82% contained toxic inorganic pollutants, the most common being heavy metals such as cadmium, mercury, arsenic, chromium, and lead, which can cause chronic health problems. Moreover, levels of organic pollutants such as dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs) are also very high, and samples above established safety levels account for 1.9%, 1.4%, and 0.5%, respectively, of all tested soil samples, which covered 6.3 million square kilometers. Aside from industrial plant waste and mining operations, the report states that the unsustainable use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides is a main human cause of widespread soil pollution ([ 1 ][2]). China's food production is affected by soil pollution but also creates much pollution itself. China consumes nearly one-third of the world's fertilizer, and the pesticide usage per unit area is 2.5 times the world average ([ 2 ][3]). The quality of cultivated land should be guaranteed. Farmers should be subsidized to improve fertilizer use efficiency and encouraged to adopt organic and biodynamic farming methods that are not reliant on heavy input of chemicals. Soil remediation projects should be implemented to improve the polluted soil gradually. Finally, there is a need to change cultural habits relating to consumption so as to reduce food waste nationwide. ![Figure][4] Contamination below. A recent report found soil pollution in 19.4% of China's farmlands. CREDIT: ALBERTHERRING/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS 1. [↵][5] Ministry of Environmental Protection and Ministry of Land and Resources of P.R. China, “Reports on China's Soil Pollution Survey” (2014); [www.zhb.gov.cn/gkml/hbb/qt/201404/t20140417_270670.htm][6] [in Chinese]. 2. [↵][7] “Establish a long-term mechanism for sustainable agricultural development,” China People's Daily (22 January 2014); [http://paper.people.com.cn/rmrb/html/2014-01/22/nw.D110000renmrb\_20140122\_1-02.htm#fin][8] [in Chinese]. [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.343.6178.1415 [2]: #ref-1 [3]: #ref-2 [4]: pending:yes [5]: #xref-ref-1-1 View reference 1 in text [6]: http://www.zhb.gov.cn/gkml/hbb/qt/201404/t20140417_270670.htm [7]: #xref-ref-2-1 View reference 2 in text [8]: http://paper.people.com.cn/rmrb/html/2014-01/22/nw.D110000renmrb_20140122_1-02.htm#fin