Toxic capitalism

"Greenpeace released a report Wednesday revealing the environmental cost of China's lucrative textile industry, which has long been under criticism from home and abroad for its heavy industrial pollution.

The report, based on studies conducted by Greenpeace from April through October in two textile-intensive towns of Xintang and Gurao in southern Guangdong Province, said laboratory testing had found heavy metals such as copper, cadmium and lead in 17 out of 21 samples of water and sediment from the two places.

One sediment sample from Xintang contained cadmium at concentrations 128 times in excess of national environmental standards, the report showed.

More than 40 percent of jeans made in Xintang are exported to the United States, European Union countries and Russia, earning the city the title of "Blue Jeans Capital of the World," whereas Gurao has been branded "Capital of Sexy," since 80 percent of its local economy is related to the underwear and lingerie industry, according to local government websites."


Read all the article: Global Times
china.globaltimes.cn/society/2010-12/598248.html