Nonferrous metals in Hunan threaten grain safety

Hunan Province in central China has some of the worst farmland pollution, as it's one of China's top producers of nonferrous metals, and it's also one of the biggest rice-growing areas.

A report by Green Peace reveals water and arable land in Hunan is increasingly contaminated by heavy metals. [File photo]

A report by Green Peace reveals water and arable land in Hunan is increasingly contaminated by heavy metals.

The metals come from metal mining, refinery and plating industries. In addition, Hunan's clothing industry, including the manufacturing of furs, down and shoes, is making the pollution worse.

According to a 2012 environmental report, Hunan discharged one-fifth of China's total cadmium, half of total lead, two-fifth of arsenic and one-tenth of chromium through wastewater.

Meanwhile, it's the sixth biggest grain-producing area in China. Most of the 800 nonferrous metal factories are located along rivers and farmlands, posing a huge threat to food safety, said Wu Yixiu, pollution prevention and control expert at Green Peace.

Last year, excessive levels of cadmium were detected in some batches of rice in Guangdong, most of which was from Hunan.