Summary OCR A-level Geography Air Pollution in China case study (Disease Dilemmas)
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Course
Disease Dilemmas (H481)
Institution
OCR
Book
OCR A Level Geography Second Edition
Highly detailed case study overview of the causes of air pollution and metrics and impacts of cancer rates in China, plus an evaluation of efforts to reduce air pollution and other evaluative points that will gain extra marks in exams
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Disease Dilemmas (H481)
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How does air pollution cause cancer in China?
Geographical Pattern of Pollution in China:
1. Particulate matter (eg: black carbon, NaCl, ammonia): affects more people than any other pollutant.
<10microns is most dangerous as small enough to lodge deep inside lungs = CVD & respiratory disease +
cancer
2. Ozone: ground level petrochemical smog formed from sunlight reacting with pollutants (eg: VOCs) = worse on
sunny days = breathing problems/asthma/reduced lung function + lung diseases
3. NO2: created by combustion of impure fuel sources = long-term exposure causes bronchitis in asthmatic
children due to inflammation + reduced lung function/growth
4. SO2: created by combustion of fossil fuels (eg: sulphur-coal) = reduced lung function, eye irritation, chronic
bronchitis + asthma, increased respiratory tract infection
Cancer Incidence & Mortality in China:
o Lung cancer: most common incident cancer + leading cause of cancer-death
o 4,292,000 new cancer cases every year
o 213.6/100,000 rural cancer incidence vs 191.5/100,000 urban
o 7500 cancer deaths per day
o Gender plays a role: breast most common for women, liver among the commonest for men, lung,
bronchus + stomach common in both
Hourly air pollution data available from >1500 sites o Lung, stomach, liver + oesophageal = 57% of Chinese cases but 18% in USA (AC)
Particulate matter, SO2, NO2 & ozone recorded
Greatest pollution in east, but widespread across northern & central
regardless of urban/rural
Highest particulate concs. south of Beijing as this is where the largest
sources are (more localised emissions in urban areas Eg: Handan)
Not surprising as particulate matter can remain airborne for days- Evaluative: Are all cancers in China caused by air pollution?
weeks & travel 1000s km Pop. growth & ageing demographic; increased cancer-related lifestyle
Key Idea 2a Case Study:
92% of pop. experience >120hrs of unhealthy air choices (Western); improved detection services, data sets & awareness
Contributes to 17% of all annual deaths in China
Air Pollution in China
Data is unreliable: Chinese govt. + WB report = 350-400,000 premature
deaths from air pollution whereas Global Burden of Disease Study report =
How is air pollution created in China? 1.2mil premature deaths in China in 2010
Air pollution causes diseases other than cancer (eg: COPD): asthma rates up
- Increasingly urbanised/westernised lifestyle (globalisation)
40% in last 5yrs
- Indoors: heating/cooking with coal + biomass
- 80% electricity + 70% total energy from coal (mostly high-sulphur) Evaluative: Is control of air pollution possible?
- Heavy industry around cities: metal smelters/power plants = fast economic growth
- Increasing car ownership with 400mil expected by 2030 (only 62mil in 2009) Growing discontent at air pollution since 2014 APEC summit when 125-mile
- Shipping boom contributing to 18,000 premature deaths per year radius of Beijing was essentially shut down to ensure ‘APEC blue’ skies for
- Problems exasperated by heavier winter air (temporal variation)/Gobi desert sands storms near Beijing high-profile world leaders
(spatial variation) ½ cars banned from roads, schools closed, public-sector workers given
- Increased smoking with 75% of cancer-deaths attributed to 12 smoking-related cancers and impacts holidays, no cremations or burials
having late onset = continued increase despite tobacco-control programs Kind of climatic façade typical of the Chinese government
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