The officials in China don't enforce environmental laws for fear of hurting business and delaying the industrial growth. However, they might think again: one third of China's vast landmass is now affected by acid rains.

Acid rain results as a consequence of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides emissions. These substances undergo chemical transformations and the products are absorbed by water droplets in clouds which become more acidic than normal. When the acidified water falls back on earth it increases the acidity of the soil and affects the chemical balance of lakes and streams.

According to Sheng Huaren, deputy chairman of the Standing Committee of parliament, China's factories spewed out 25.5 million tons of sulfur dioxide last year, up 27 percent from 2000. The report said sulfur dioxide emissions were double safe levels. His report also showed that pollution from factories and power plants was rising by 9 percent a year.

"Increased sulphur dioxide emissions meant that one-third of China's territory was affected by acid rain, posing a major threat to soil and food safety," Sheng said, according to the Xinhua News Agency quoted by AP.

Pollution is one of China's biggest problems. Millions of people lack access to clean drinking water as a result of industrial accidents poisoning major rivers and Chinese cities are among the smoggiest in the world.

The current government had promised to take action and tackle the environmental issues, and it pledged to cut air pollution emissions by 10 percent by 2010. However, the current report, as well as other past reports, shows that the pledges are not met and that the loss of farmland continues.

"It is true that in some areas, local governments focus more on economic development than on the environment," said to Mao Rupai, chairman of the parliament's environmental committee. "In the future, officials will be judged not just by their economic growth but by environmental protection as well."

Due to fears of hurting businesses, some areas comply with as few as 30 percent of environmental regulations, he said. Maybe the dire economic effects of acid rain will eventually ring a bell that environmental measures are a necessary part of sound economic development and not a deterrent.

Image: How acid rain is formed in industrial areas and distributed over long distances. Credit: Research Machines plc