| China Using Fish to Eat Pollution, Then Selling the Fish |
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| Written by Hank Green | |
| Monday, 25 February 2008 | |
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China looks to be solving an environmental disaster by moving the toxins up the food chain into its residents. Let's hope that they won't be exporting the carp that will be gobbling up Lake Chao's pollution problem. Lake Chao (Chau Hu) is one of China's five largest fresh water lakes. As such, it drives all nearby industry, once primarily fishing. But along with China's rapid economic growth, of course you can't forget China's rapid environmental decline. Lake Chao's fish stocks have plumetted in the last 10 years, as untreated sewage and effluent from hundreds of factories have turned the lake into one of China's biggest environmental disasters. But don't worry, they've got a plan! Actually, if you're planning on buying fish from China, you should definitely worry. China has just begun the release of 1.5 million silver carp fry. These fish thrive in low-oxygen waters (like Lake Chao) and enjoy eating the algae that has flourished in the toxic, high-nitrogen pollution of the lake. The Chaohu Fishery Administration estimates that each fish will consume up to 100 lbs of algea, and all the toxic chemicals contained in it, before reaching full size. At that point, the fish will be sold into the market as food. Thus a boon to the fishing industry and the environment at an immeasurable cost to public health. OK, China isn't exactly known for it's intelligent environmental policies but this is ridiculous. To imagine that simply moving the toxins up the food chain into people could be a solution seems outrageous. But there it is. In the end, there is no way to decrease the amount of pollution in China's water without dealing with the source of that pollution, something that Prefecture officials are loathe to do, as it trades rapid development for health, safety and the environment. As for now, we only have one suggestion. Don't eat anything that comes from China. Via Yahoo News
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Hits: 39898 Comments (25)
  written by robert saint amour, February 24, 2008
china is a cesspool and will only get worse as long as americans continue to encourage walmart to buy 75% of their merchandise there
written by Craig Mackintosh, February 25, 2008
A lot of people are not aware what it means for chemicals to move up the food chain. It's not a good look. The following post makes it easy to understand 'biomagnification':
http://www.celsias.com/2007/04/02/pesticides-and-you/
written by Kmuzu, February 25, 2008
Oh come on .. that is pure evil genius beautiful .. I wonder if that was planned from the start or if the plant operators were like, "What are we going to do with all these screwed up, mutant fish?"
Thank you for making my day brighter. King Kmuzu
written by a guest, February 25, 2008
"china is a cesspool and will only get worse as long as americans continue to encourage walmart to buy 75% of their merchandise there"
Yes, put no responsibility on the people and government of China, let's blame the Americans instead! That's much easier.
written by Ebony, February 25, 2008
Perhaps the toxins the fish injest are chemically altered as they process them, rendering them mostly harmless.
Sure the people will be eating it, but once it's been through a biological system that filters oxygen out of water, I'm not entirely convinced there's no method to the madness here.
written by Craig Mackintosh, February 25, 2008
Ebony - er... suggest you read the post I referred to in the 'biomagnification' comment above. Here it is again:
http://www.celsias.com/2007/04/02/pesticides-and-you Animals don't 'filter' toxins. They get more and more concentrated as they go up the food chain.
written by D M, February 26, 2008
Your article would carry more weight if you actually mentioned a toxin -- 'untreated sewage' does not mean deadly poison. If poop bioaccumulated, we'd all have been dead back when we were single-celled organisms. If the main problem is nitrates, it sounds like China is on the ball. The algae are sucking up all the oxygen, killing the native plants and animals. Eat the algae and you solve the problem. Not all toxins act the same way as mercury.
written by jonolan, February 26, 2008
Ebony may well be right in this case. Biomagnification is only possible in the case of poisons that are not broken down by the organism in question. The article only cites various sources of nitrates, which will be broken down by both the algae and by the carp in question.
written by Craig Mackintosh, February 26, 2008
"Pesticide residues are not the only problem arising from modern agricultural techniques. Increasingly, nitrate levels in vegetables are causing concern, although most attention so far has been focused on nitrates in water supplies
written by Pete, February 26, 2008
I think it is a good crazy idea.
This is to get you to think.. For it to work you would need to ensure that the ones that own the factory have to eat the fish as well. when they have a wife/husband and children who become unwell, they will do something quickly about the pollution. same as if you were to take all the rubbish each week and dump it in your back garden for a year.. you'd learn how bad it can be to not recycle and not use/have organic waste/wrapping.
written by daretoeatapeach, February 26, 2008
Pete:The people who run the factories will be able to afford the non-tainted fish. Only the poor will choose to eat the fish with poison. For example, look at the U.S. where the upper middle class can afford Organic food while the poor eat Ramen noodles and mercury-tainted fish. Or look at villagers who's sustenance stocks are fished by outsiders and they are sold back the skeletons of what they used to fish to eat.
written by Tattler, February 26, 2008
I have been to Lake Chaohu many times. It is a rather beautiful lake that does suffer from having a surplus of Algae blooms during the summer months. To suggest "...untreated sewage and effluent from hundreds of factories have turned the lake into one of China's biggest environmental disasters," is far from the truth.
The fact that you do not even name the province in which it is located, nor any of the recent measures taken by the Anhui government to ensure pollution and algae growth in the lake is kept to a minimum, suggests you have done little research into the subject. Perhaps you have a case of Yellow Peril Fever which induces knee-jerk negative responses to any news from China.
written by V, February 26, 2008
Well, their growth can be directly attributed to American trade. They have officially favored status and they make virtually EVERYTHING we buy. Of course China is to blame for their failure to regulate, but we support them every time we go shopping because people are too ignorant to realize they can buy quality American-made goods.
written by Jing, February 26, 2008
you don't know China at all, you think you know the truth just by reading those stupid news?
written by MoMo, May 01, 2008
We,the USA & the European Union,have to help all the developing countries such as CHINA,India,Brazil and so on for solving any pollution(especially as water,air & soil).
The only thing we can do is "not blaming/insulting",but "helping". We have to remember "how bad" was the pollution happened in the developed countries before?
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written by Tony, August 12, 2008
I so love when people come in defense, while ignoring the truth about the place. So What... he did not name the province, that does not mean one has not been there.
Plain and simply put China is one GIANT CESSPOOL of a country, the land and people are dirty, and all the points of the blog are true. I love these people who go to China for a weeks vacation and become experts on this country. I have been to 57 cities in China(do I have to name every one, and every province they are in for people to believe me) and almost 100 factories in China. The country is disgusting. every day I spend there, I go home and spend the first 30 minutes blowing, dust, dirt and other black garbage out of my nose, before putting a ring around my shower and bath tub from the dirt my body has collected during the day. How long does one have to spend in a country, how many things do they need see before the truth can be said. As for those of you who say America, and Europe are at fault you are correct, but for the wrong reason. these people ( the Chinese), but the reason we are at fault is for political correctness, not for buying the products, tell them they are a cesspool, cause them to loose face and they will change, cater to these people and they only become arrogant, that is truth for you China can do no wrong people, if you don't believe me try it, then tell me I am wrong. But there are no worries, the companies will begin to leave China soon, and go to Vietnam, so that that too can be turned into the same. Then China will revert back 20 years,and maybe, just maybe clean itself up.
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It's true what our moms said...we are what we eat. In fact, it's truer than they thought. What I eat doesn't just affect me anymore, it affects all of us.
Unfortunately, the story of food can sometimes be complicated. But envirovores help each other out...which is why this blog will be bringing you news, tips, and information about food and the environment every step of the way.
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