title: Environmental degradation and environmental threats in China.
abstract: The article presents a review of environmental degradation and its threats in China. Air pollution, water pollution, deforestation, soil degradation, sand depositing in dams, decaying urban infrastructure, and more and more hazards such as floods, landslides and soil erosion are major consequences of environmental degradation and are making tremendous loss both in life and property. Through investigation, the author found that poor air quality in the large cities; water pollution in the downstream of many rivers; the multiple problems of many mining areas; lack of access to fresh water; decaying sewage systems; and the disastrous impact of these environmental degradations on public health and agricultural products in many provinces is rather serious. Relationship of environmental degradation and natural hazards is close; more attention should be put in environmental degradation that may surpass economy progress if the trend continues. It is therefore imperative that Chinese government undertake a series of prudent actions now that will enable to be in the best possible position when the current environmental crisis ultimately passes.
authors.affiliation: School of Civil and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu Sichuan, PR China. ywang69@sina.com
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D002681:China; D002947:Cities; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000517:prevention & control; D015386:Hazardous Substances / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008906:Mining; D011157:Population Dynamics; D011634:Public Health; D045483:Rivers; D012722:Sewage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
chemical_list: D015386:Hazardous Substances; D012722:Sewage