Herder During a Storm in China

A cow herder during a dust storm at the coal ash disposal site of the Yuanbaoshan Power Plant, Chifeng, Inner Mongolia.

Unique identifier: GP02CP4

Type: Image

Shoot date: 13/03/2011

Locations: Asia, China, Inner Mongolia

Credit line: © Liu Feiyue / Greenpeace

Ranking: ★★★★★★ (B)

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Coal Dust Storms in China

The sand storms originate in the arid and semi-arid areas of northwest China and Central Asia. Strong winds carry sand and dust into the north and east of China, damaging the health of both people and livestock, and hurting industrial and agricultural production.

Coal ash that has been dumped in disposal sites without first being properly handled is easily whipped up into the atmosphere by strong winds, mixing into dust storm and traveling thousands of kilometres. But even more worrying is that this coal ash contains a high concentration of heavy metals and other toxic pollutants, including arsenic, selenium, lead and mercury. The presence of coal ash has transformed the physical and chemical composition of dust storms which now pose a serious threat to people’s health.

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