Scientists report Beijing is nearly uninhabitable for human beings.

[DOC]

The smog problem in Beijing China just seems to be getting worse.

From the article:

"China’s toxic air pollution resembles nuclear winter, say scientists"
By Jonathan Kaiman:

"Early this month, the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences claimed in a report that Beijing’s pollution makes the city almost “uninhabitable for human beings“"

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/02/...tion-resembles-nuclear-winter-say-scientists/

It looks like China is paying a heavy price for its rapid economic growth.

 

[DrDave]

Don't care, as long as they keep making iPads etc

 

[angrysoba]

The air in Japan today was clearly filthy with toxic dust, as well.

 

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Huzzah for runaway capitalism.

 

[Ziggurat]

I'm sure pollution there is really bad, but it looks to me like there's some scare-mongering going on as well.

"New research suggests that if the smog persists, Chinese agriculture will suffer conditions “somewhat similar to a nuclear winter”, said He Dongxian, an associate professor at China Agricultural University‘s College of Water Resources and Civil Engineering. She has demonstrated that air pollutants adhere to greenhouse surfaces, cutting the amount of light inside by about 50% and severely impeding photosynthesis, the process by which plants convert light into life-sustaining chemical energy.

He tested the hypothesis by growing one group of chilli and tomato seeds under artificial lab light, and another under a suburban Beijing greenhouse. In the lab, the seeds sprouted in 20 days; in the greenhouse, they took more than two months. “They will be lucky to live at all,” she told the South China Morning Post newspaper."

Sprouting largely takes place underground. Light levels should have little effect on the processes that happen while the germinating seed remains underground, sinc ethe ground itself blocks most of the light. I would expect some other factor (such as temperature) to be responsible for any difference, not light levels.

 

[Wudang]

Sprouting largely takes place underground. Light levels should have little effect on the processes that happen while the germinating seed remains underground, since the ground itself blocks most of the light. I would expect some other factor (such as temperature) to be responsible for any difference, not light levels.

Temperature would be (partly) dependant on sunlight penetrating the glass to warm the air so would be expected to dip if the sunlight were blocked. However comparing to a permanent optimal growing lamp does not control for weather variability so a fair test would be an identical greenhouse somewhere with similar weather patterns but protected from air pollution. Or just two side by side and clean the glass on one daily.

 

[DOC]

Don't care, as long as they keep making iPads etc

So it would seem you wouldn't have a problem with sweatshops as long as they keep some of your prices lower.

 

[Ziggurat]

So it would seem you wouldn't have a problem with sweatshops as long as they keep some of your prices lower.

Pretty much (warning: naughty language).

 

[rjh01]

In London in the 1950s they had similar issues. As a result they did something about it. I wonder if the Chinese will do something about their current issues?

 

[Darat]

In London the UK in the 1950s they had similar issues. As a result they did something about it. I wonder if the Chinese will do something about their current issues?

Fixed that for you. Just a pet peeve of mine, it seems if it didn't happen in London it didn't happen. Most of the UKs major cities suffered from smog problems.

 

[carlitos]

I'm glad to see DOC putting his trust into what scientists say.

 

[DOC]

I'm glad to see DOC putting his trust into what scientists say.

Unless I have convincing evidence to the contrary.

 

[DrDave]

So it would seem you wouldn't have a problem with sweatshops as long as they keep some of your prices lower.

Of course not. That's the whole point of sweat shops

 

[Hubert Cumberdale]

Fixed that for you. Just a pet peeve of mine, it seems if it didn't happen in London it didn't happen. Most of the UKs major cities suffered from smog problems.

True but the smog was particularly bad in the capital, which precipitated the change in legislation.

 

[catsmate]

Don't care, as long as they keep making iPads etc

Which aren't made around Beijing IIRC.

Huzzah for runaway capitalism.

Indeed.

Fixed that for you. Just a pet peeve of mine, it seems if it didn't happen in London it didn't happen. Most of the UKs major cities suffered from smog problems.

Yes, but previously such problems were mainly in the industrial North, where no-one important lived.

Also, and to be serious, a significant problem in the UK in the 50s was the export/import of coal due to the country finishing WW2 effectively broke.


Now, on the subject of Beijing's air pollution, here is a Guardian link for those who prefer a slightly higher standard of journalism.
WSJ. Time. SCMP. Here is the real time air quality index (not currently good).
It should be noted that smog/dust levels were as bad early in 2013 but later lessened.

 

[DOC]

CBS reported that the smog levels in Beijing are 20 x's the safe level:

http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/chinas-smog-now-20-times-worse-than-safe-levels/

New Delhi, India smog levels are also very bad.

 

[sackett]

...New Delhi, India smog levels are also very bad.

So that's where New Delhi is! I always wondered!

 

[Giz]

So that's where New Delhi is! I always wondered!

Probably worried that people would get confused with Old Delhi.

 

[Garrison]

So that's where New Delhi is! I always wondered!

But you must remember many of the readers of those articles will be from the USA and need all the help they can get when it comes to geography and international affairs...

 

[crescent]

So that's where New Delhi is! I always wondered!

Probably worried that people would get confused with Old Delhi.

But you must remember many of the readers of those articles will be from the USA and need all the help they can get when it comes to geography and international affairs...

There is a new Deli a few blocks from my house, between the carniceria and the tack store. I have not been there yet, but it does not seem to have much smog associated with it.

I'm American like that.