Farmers use toxic waste as fertilizer
Source: Xinhua |
December 28, 2012, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
Fertilizer contaminated with used batteries and other toxic waste has resulted in another food safety scandal in China.
Jiang Xicheng, chairman of the environmental protection arm of the Guangdong Lion's Club, a charity organization, broke the news on the Internet, alleging that farmers in the southern city of Guangzhou made fertilizer out of fermented garbage that contained used batteries, shattered glass and kitchen waste.
"I was shocked. The heavy metal content of the fertilizer must exceed safety levels," he said. "It poses a severe threat to human health."
Zhou Yongzhang, deputy director of the Department of Earth Sciences at Sun Yat-sen University, said the used batteries could severely contaminate vegetables with lead and mercury.
He added that if farmers rotate their soil often, the contamination could get worse.
Media reports on the case have aroused anger online.
"We have big supervisory departments, but their ability to function is seriously in doubt," wrote blogger "ruyigongzi."
A farmer from Guangzhou surnamed Zeng said it was common practice for local farmers to use garbage as fertilizer.
So common is the practice that garbage collectors transport carts of waste specifically to sell to farmers.
Zhu Lijia, a professor with the Chinese Academy of Governance, said government supervisors were to blame.
"The farmers do share some responsibility, but if the government was strictly supervising them, such things wouldn't have happened," he said.
The scale of contamination, as well as how much tainted produce has reached the market is not yet clear.
Guangdong authorities are investigating.
Jiang Xicheng, chairman of the environmental protection arm of the Guangdong Lion's Club, a charity organization, broke the news on the Internet, alleging that farmers in the southern city of Guangzhou made fertilizer out of fermented garbage that contained used batteries, shattered glass and kitchen waste.
"I was shocked. The heavy metal content of the fertilizer must exceed safety levels," he said. "It poses a severe threat to human health."
Zhou Yongzhang, deputy director of the Department of Earth Sciences at Sun Yat-sen University, said the used batteries could severely contaminate vegetables with lead and mercury.
He added that if farmers rotate their soil often, the contamination could get worse.
Media reports on the case have aroused anger online.
"We have big supervisory departments, but their ability to function is seriously in doubt," wrote blogger "ruyigongzi."
A farmer from Guangzhou surnamed Zeng said it was common practice for local farmers to use garbage as fertilizer.
So common is the practice that garbage collectors transport carts of waste specifically to sell to farmers.
Zhu Lijia, a professor with the Chinese Academy of Governance, said government supervisors were to blame.
"The farmers do share some responsibility, but if the government was strictly supervising them, such things wouldn't have happened," he said.
The scale of contamination, as well as how much tainted produce has reached the market is not yet clear.
Guangdong authorities are investigating.
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