the big read: chinese village clean-tech to the world, where trees die and water is polluted

In the evening, the pollution in the village had an extraordinary, almost fairy tale --tale quality.
\"The air is shining,\" said Zhang Tulin, a farmer in a village in northeast China.
\"When any light shines on the particles, they shine.
\"During the day these particles are as clearly visible as a glossy gray dust that covers everything.
It crushed the crops it covered, the junk clothes hanging outside to dry, and the sand on the food.
The tap water in the village has also become undrinkable.
Zhang\'s husband, Yu Yuan, said there was a plot next to the family home where saplings had been planted, but the trees died once the plant started operating.
\"This is where we live,\" said Zhang . \" He slowly waved an arm at the stump.
Zhang and lives near a factory that produces graphite, a glittering substance known for filling pencils, has become an indispensable resource for the new millennium.
It\'s a component of lithium. ion batteries.
Lithium batteries are smaller and more powerful than their predecessors, powering smartphones and laptops, and it seems destined to become more important as companies make bigger electric cars.
The companies that make these products promote the bright future possibilities of \"clean\" technology.
But in fact, all of these batteries use graphite, and in China, cheap production of Graphite usually produces old batteries under loose environmental control.
Industrial pollution.
In five towns in China\'s two provinces, the Washington Post reporter heard the same story from villagers living near the graphite company: sparkling night air, damaged crops, houses and contaminated drinking water
Government officials tend to benefit big employers in another way.
After leaving China\'s mines and refineries, most of the graphite was sold to Samsung SDI, LG Chem and Panasonic-
Three major manufacturers of lithiumion batteries.
These companies offer batteries to major consumer companies such as Samsung, LG, GM and Toyota.
Apple\'s products also use batteries produced by these companies.
Samsung SDI and LG Chem in particular.
But Apple spokesman Fred Sainz said the company had turned to unmined synthetic graphite for its current product.
The company declined to say when a change was made entirely dependent on synthetic graphite.
Some provinces in China are trying to crack down on polluting businesses, and three years ago they fined several graphite companies.
But the pollution continues.
Villagers say the clean-up failed.
They are short.
Live or inadequate
Because the local government has a close relationship with company officials, it is reluctant to recognize the seriousness of the environmental problem.
People living near the graphite factory are often scared to express their discontent with pollution.
They fear executives and local government officials.
\"He\'s here,\" said an older woman in a low voice at Ma Shan, near Jixi city in Northeast China, who turned around and secretly pointed to a village official who was approaching.
She and her husband have been talking to a reporter.
Graphite pollution near her
While some are free to talk, in all five areas with graphite plants, there are people who, like the couple, are reluctant to speak on the record.
In addition, factory managers and party officials sometimes strongly discourage journalists from talking to villagers.
In three of the villages, journalists were followed by taxis.
No matter what obstacles are encountered, the villagers who are willing to talk about the pollution are very consistent.
They usually say with disgust that graphite makes everything in Mattel dirty, which is a regional expression that means dirty.
Since the opening of the graphite factory in Zhangjia village about five years ago, graphite has been more than a hassle.
The couple lives near the city chicken West, less than 50 miles from the Russian border.
The dust covered their corn crop so that a row of corn poles walking would make their faces black.
It seems impossible to keep it out of the house.
At the table, they often chew the particles on their teeth.
They are also concerned about the consequences of health, especially inhalation.
Inhalation of particulate matter can cause a range of health problems, including heart disease and respiratory diseases, according to health experts.
But not just air.
Zhang and Yu said the graphite plant discharged pollutants into local waters
The night events they can detect through the smell: the discharge leaves a chemical smell and stimulates their breathing passages.
They say these emissions not only make their water undrinkable, but also make the local rivers not freeze in the winter.
They also believe that this discharge poisoned the poplar trees they planted outside, just outside the range of food they provided for ducks, geese and chickens.
\"All the trees were fine until the graphite plant started,\" Yu said . \".
\"It killed my tree.
\"We want to move, but we don\'t have any money,\" said Zhang . \"
The couple said they and others complained to the local government but were told the graphite company was too big to control.
They said the company refused to meet with them and others in the affected areas.
\"Of course I will move if I have money!
Yu added that there was a hint of anger on his face.
\"Who would want to live in this wheat station?
Dust is everywhere.
\"In answering questions, some major electronics and automotive companies that sell lithium-dependent products
Ion batteries say they are investigating the problems found in the mailing report.
\"We are currently looking into your concerns, so at the moment we don\'t have detailed information,\" said Shin, spokesman for battery maker Samsung SDI . \".
\"Please note that Panasonic sent a fact --
\"They have found evidence of pollution and the company is now taking immediate corrective action,\" Panasonic spokesman Mio Yamanaka said in an email . \".
A spokesman for LG Chem, a sister company of electronics giant LG, said that since the Chinese government raised environmental issues related to natural graphite production, it has been \"monitoring our suppliers with great interest \".
The company said it visited its Chinese suppliers in 2014 and found no specific problems.
The survey was carried out after the company promised them to prevent supply chain pollution worldwide.
In its corporate sustainability report, Samsung said, \"as we pursue sustainable development and minimize the impact on the environment, we are particularly committed to improving the quality of life of local residents.
\"Visitors to Apple\'s environmental site learned that the company seeks to ensure that global suppliers\" use manufacturing processes that are responsible for the environment \".
\"However, it is hard to know whether consumer companies insist on their environmental integrity, especially if the supply chain returns to China.
One obstacle is the complexity of the supply chain and the secrets surrounding the supply chain.
For example, tracking the source of graphite in a mobile phone needs to find out where the phone manufacturer gets the battery, where the battery manufacturer gets the battery part called the anode, and where the anode producer gets the graphite.
In addition, since there are multiple suppliers and various types of graphite at each step, it is difficult to know where the minerals of any given batch will end up.
Several companies, including Tesla, may be the most famous electric vehicle company.
The automaker declined to disclose the source of graphite.
Some companies say they have suppliers track where their graphite comes from.
Another obstacle is that people who know the most about pollution sources, those who live near factories, are often reluctant to complain publicly, especially in China.
The popular graphite in AmericaS.
The Post uses public records, company announcements, reports from industry analysts, and interviews with company officials at China International Battery Expo, a trade show in Shenzhen
Central to the graphite supply chain is a Chinese company, BTR, the world\'s largest supplier of lithium natural graphite materials
Ion batteries, according to industry analysts. (
Artificial or synthetic graphite is used in some lithium
The main use is ion batteries, but natural graphite is mined.
The price of natural graphite is about half the original price. )
Chen Bifeng, marketing director of BTR, said in an interview with The Post that the company provides about 75% of the market demand for natural graphite materials for batteries.
According to five Chinese graphite factories interviewed by The Post reporter, each reported providing graphite to BTR.
Three of these factories are located in Northeast China\'s Heilongjiang province-
There are two in Aoyu Graphite and one in BTR.
The two factories of Henson graphite and Haida Graphite are located in Shandong province, south of Beijing in the Yellow Sea.
\"Like everyone else, we sell some to BTR,\" said Chen Geng, assistant president of Aoyu Graphite Group, which processes graphite in several parts of China. \"They\'re big.
\"From BTR\'s point of view, graphite is distributed all over the world.
The company sells graphite directly to the largest lithium manufacturer
According to Chen Bifeng, marketing director of BTR, Ion batteries including Samsung SDI, LG Chem and Panasonic.
These companies in turn produce batteries for Samsung, LG, GM, Toyota and other consumer companies.
The Post sent a letter to the consumer company provided by the battery supplier by BTR.
The letters seek information about the link between consumer companies and natural graphite produced by Chinese companies accused of contamination.
GM declined to answer questions about graphite sources, but said in a statement, \"GM is committed to manufacturing these vehicles in the most sustainable way possible by reducing the environmental impact of our vehicles
A Toyota spokesman did not answer questions about its graphite source, but noted that the automaker did not purchase graphite directly, \"We strive to minimize the impact of procurement activities on the local community . \". . . .
If there are concerns about the source, we will ask our suppliers to take action to avoid the use of certain materials.
BTR also provides graphite to Amperex Technology Ltd.
According to IHS, a global information company, ATL has built batteries for Amazon\'s kindle. Amazon.
Com is by Jeffrey P. , owner of the post. Bezos.
Amazon declined to answer questions about graphite sources, but said in a statement: \"We are committed to ensuring the highest standards in all areas of production and manufacturing.
We work closely with suppliers to ensure that they meet our standards and conduct some audits each year to ensure that our manufacturing partners are in line with our policies.
\"The representative of BTR said it was trying to make sure that the graphite it used was mined and treated clean, and a spokesman, Sally Guo, said in an email in Shenzhen, it is \"unfair\" to accuse the company of pollution \".
All BTR subsidiaries are eco-friendly, \"qualified and approved by the government, production operates in strict accordance with relevant laws and regulations,\" she wrote \".
She declined to give details of BTR\'s relationship with factories in the supply chain.
While BTR provides the largest share of natural graphite for the battery, it is only part of a large supply chain.
The graphite company visited by the Post Office also supplies other intermediate companies-not just BTR -
Their graphite products are used for lithium-
Ion batteries worldwide.
The graphite produced by these factories covers some large Japanese companies, such as Japan\'s carbon company, and a Chinese company called makes Mountain, which produces battery anode.
In addition to these intermediary companies, the position is unable to track graphite further.
Mitsubishi Chemical, Hitachi Chemical and Japan carbon did not respond to repeated requests for customer information.
Shanshan officials hung up the reporter.
There are graphite all over the world, but Heilongjiang province is a relatively remote area on the Russian border and the largest single source in the world.
For many people there, it means big business.
At the entrance of Ma Shan, a dusty village near Jixi, Heilongjiang province, four huge billboards celebrate the graphite industry.
In a wide array of storefronts, mopeds and pedestrians, billboards paint samples of gray powder against the backdrop of blue skies and daisies.
The sign says \"City of graphite \".
\"China\'s dominance in the graphite industry is partly due to price.
While this mineral can be found elsewhere, the low cost of graphite in China has prevented companies elsewhere from mining.
The price of raw graphite suitable for refining into Yang pole is about $550 per ton. Stephen A.
President of the United StatesS. -
Asbury Carbons, based in Asbury Carbons, who began importing graphite from China in the 1970 s, said that the reason why China was able to occupy the largest share of the graphite market was mainly \"price problems\", purity and quantity.
Chinese companies benefit from low labor costs and firm creativity, Mr. Riddle said.
For example, in a mine he visited in early 1980, workers used picks and shovels to remove raw materials from the soil --
Unlike tractors and other heavy equipment used elsewhere
Then the graphite is processed with manual equipment.
\"They\'re obviously a very low.
\"Cost operation,\" said Riddle.
In their 70 s, China accounted for only a tenth of the world\'s supply.
According to U. S. data, Press 2015S.
Geological Survey, it produced about two
Thirty times the world supply
Especially in recent years, the development of this industry, especially around the chicken West, has had an impact on the environment.
On a mountain not far from the rice fields where villagers work in Liuliu, there is a graphite mine and a processing plant owned by BTR.
Some residents complain about pollution. they blame the polluted water and the dusty air.
\"If you leave the window open, there\'s graphite everywhere --
\"On the furniture, on the plate,\" Li Jie, 51, said while cleaning up some pots for rice seedlings.
\"It\'s built on the windowsill.
The cherries we planted were covered with dust.
\"The 63-year-old Zhao Guiyan is also a native of Liu Mao. because of the chemical smell, she covered her nose while passing through some local waters.
\"I\'m worried about the impact it will have on our health --
Suck it in and eat it, \"she said.
Like many people in the village, she relies to a certain extent on food grown in her own yard or neighborhood.
\"I wash vegetables over and over again,\" Zhao said . \". \"But [the graphite]is still there.
Taste and feel like you\'re chewing sand.
Residents also reflected similar problems in Mount Ma.
Mashan has several graphite plants, including another owned by BTR and Aoyu.
Liu Shengwen, 55, a worker, shared two copies with his son
There is a bathroom outside the bedroom house.
They lived in Mashan for about 20 years, and about 2010 noticed an increase in dust from the nearby graphite plant. \"The dust . . .
It\'s all over the place, \"said Lyu.
He went to the window sill, swept the window sill with his hand, and then walked to the visitor with his black fingers.
He shrugged his shoulders and then went out to the clothesline, pulling a dry pair of trousers from the clothesline and shaking.
A cloud of dust appeared.
He then retrieved a black hose that supplied good water and invited his guests to check the water.
It\'s cloudy, he said.
So greasy that they now retrieve drinking water from a water source more than a mile away.
\"They are mining anywhere on the mountain,\" Lyu said of graphite . \".
\"Plants release gas into the water.
It is impossible to do anything about it.
His neighbor Liu Fulan, 62, came over curiously.
Liu is a farmer. she lives with her son. she is 11 years old. year-
Old Grandson
A pink and golden card hangs at the front door of Lyu.
It requires good luck.
Liu nodded, because Lu explained the trouble caused by the graphite factory.
Liu said: \"You can\'t live without taking a bath every two days . \"
She apologized for the situation at home.
I should clean it.
\"I used to clean up a lot,\" she said shyly . \". \"It\'s mai tai.
But I gave up.
I already have too many things to do.
\"Despite the name, a small part of lithium --
In fact, lithium-ion batteries are made up of lithium.
Graphite is used to make negative electrodes, accounting for about 10-15% of the typical lithium cost
Ion batteries, according to analysts.
With the demand for more graphite, the demand for graphite has increased
Powerful laptops, tablets and mobile phones.
Ten years ago, for example, the best battery
Capacity to sell Motorola Razr is 680 mAhours.
Best Battery today
Smartphone sales are three or four times that of it.
Liu Guoliang, senior engineer of Jixi graphite business association, said that in 2010, due to the demand for lithium, the demand for graphite increased very rapidlyion batteries.
The graphite for the battery must be refined to a very high purity, and the flakes must be converted into tiny spherical or potato-like particles.
This additional refining means that the value of refined graphite is 10 times that of raw materials, which makes the business particularly attractive, Lyu said.
However, without proper control, mining and refining can cause pollution in two ways --
Through air and water.
The graphite powder will soon become dust in the air, drifting for miles.
There is no TARP and fan system to control it, resulting fine
Particle contamination can cause a series of breathing difficulties, such as aggravating lung disease or lowering lung function, and is associated with heart attacks in patients with heart disease, the United States said. S.
Environmental Protection Bureau.
Due to the leakage of graphite chemicals into local waters, the operation of graphite can also lead to pollution.
According to industry insiders, the purification process, especially in China, is usually done with highly toxic acid (usually hf.
This method is cheaper than that used in other countries, where graphite is purified by \"baking,
Just heat it up.
Ryder of Asbury Carbons said refining graphite in this way is better for the environment, but the price has risen by about 15%.
Over the past 20 years, his company has insisted on buying only graphite refined in this way, he said.
\"We had hoped that more companies and users would follow us, but that\'s not the case,\" Riddle said . \".
The Chinese government is paying more and more attention to China\'s environmental problems.
After decades of economic development, China\'s air has become a serious health threat.
According to multiple estimates, millions or more Chinese die prematurely each year due to outdoor air pollution, including a report known as the global burden of disease, and a program at the University of Washington is over.
One of the key groups of pollutants in China\'s air is \"particulate matter \"--
Dust, soot, smoke
Includes the categories of air pollutants discharged from graphite factories.
At the same time, the water quality in China is deteriorating.
According to the China water crisis, in 2015, the proportion of groundwater supply in countries classified as \"bad\" or \"very bad\" exceeded 60%, A non-profit organization that counts data from China\'s Ministry of Environmental Protection.
According to the group, major rivers in China over the first quarter were seen by the government as \"unfit for human contact \".
According to the graphite mining report displayed by the state --
Running CCTV, the rivers in the west of the chicken show many times the levels of lead and mercury that are restricted by the state.
However, given the range of industries in the region, it is not possible to say how much of lead and mercury comes from the graphite industry.
On 2014, Premier Li Keqiang announced: \"while declaring war on poverty, we will resolutely declare war on pollution . \".
About three years ago, China\'s environmental efforts focused on the graphite industry. The record shows that provincial and municipal officials quoted more than a dozen companies. most of China\'s graphite business was completed in Heilongjiang and Shandong provinces.
For example, Aoyu, who runs a factory near Lushan Lu Shengwen and Liu Fulan, was quoted for not controlling dust and water pollution.
According to the government records database maintained by the Institute for Public and Environmental Affairs, it was fined approximately $7,500 for these violations and requested improvements (IPE), a Beijing-Based on non-profit organizations.
Similarly, BTR faces similar enforcement efforts in air and water pollution.
According to its manager, Hensen, a graphite producer in Shandong province, also sold graphite to BTR, who did not respond to an email question about water pollution.
Guo, a BTR spokesman, said the plant had been improved and approved by the local government.
She attributed the complaint to BTR as an environmental leader in the industry.
So, she said, \"We think it\'s normal. . .
Someone attacked BTR by improper means. . . .
BTR will talk to the locals. . . .
We want to prove to them that BTR will not cause pollution to water and crops.
An Australian official hung up a phone call from reporters seeking comment on pollution.
But not all graphite factories are targeted.
For two of the five factories visited by Post reporters, no government-cited records were found in the mail database.
Even where the government quotes polluters, neighbors say they are short if there is any improvement --
There is not enough material to solve the problem.
Some factories have taken measures to prevent pollution, villagers said.
Actions such as preventing graphite from flying out of waterproof cloth or preventing toxic sewage from flowing into local waters
Only when environmental officials are present.
\"It was worse last year, but it was still very bad,\" Li said in Liu Mao . \".
\"Everything is Mai Tai.
Residents and some industry delegates say the problem is that while the government wants to protect the environment, they also want to protect the work of the graphite plant.
Hou Lin, 30, worked as safety manager at Aoyu factory in Mashan.
When some farmers complained to reporters about the pollution, he came over.
\"The company is very polluted,\" he agreed . \"
But people need jobs.
Villagers say one of the main obstacles to removing pollution is a strong alliance between local government officials and owners of graphite plants.
The officials said the factories were protected from environmental complaints.
Of the five villages visited by Post reporters on June and 13, a village official from three villages tried to participate in the interview, or shortly after asking the respondents what happened in the interview.
In addition, factory managers and party officials sometimes stop journalists from talking to villagers.
For example, after the Post reporter visited the Haida Graphite factory in Pingdu city, a factory employee jumped into a car and followed their taxi to leave the property and cross the village streets.
The taxi stopped twice in the village so that the post could interview more people.
At each stop, the drivers of Haida cars approached within a few feet and honked the car horn constantly, making it impossible to talk to villagers.
Only when a postal taxi leaves the area will the driver give in.
When asked about comments on pollution complaints, a Haida official accused a postal reporter of being \"a spy\" and refused to answer questions.
Similarly, after The Post visited a BTR graphite factory in Jixi, two cars with several men in them began to follow the reporter\'s taxi.
Over a few miles, the taxi stopped three times to get them through.
Every time, the car behind is parked by the side and parked behind the taxi at the station.
In the face, the people in the car told reporters that it was just a coincidence that they stopped while the taxi stopped.
The men said they were planning a bike race.
The intimidation had an impact on the villagers.
Not far from the Henson graphite factory in Lacey, it is a small factory that produces women\'s underwear.
The 48-year-old Korean soldier is the owner.
A big man, proud of his workshop, is eager to talk about graphite contamination.
He would be happy to invite reporters into his home to show that dust quickly gathers on his kitchen table to show how his well water is now covered with gray film.
But when he filed a lawsuit against the graphite factory, his wife became nervous --and then angry.
She warned her husband that it would only cause trouble for factory managers and village officials.
\"Yes, there is absolutely an impact [
From graphite]
But we don\'t want to be on TV, \"she said.
\"It may offend the boss of the company, which may affect our lives. You [reporters]
We live here. you wash your hands and walk away.
Still, Han wants to let everyone know his complaints.
Once his wife acquiesced, he offered to point out an area that showed the worst impact of pollution.
He said the land had been used by small farmers, but the impact of industrial runoff on the soil was so great that \"even weeds could not grow \".
\"However, less than a few minutes after driving to the contaminated site, Han saw the factory manager\'s car parked on the side of the road. \"They know it -
\"They know I\'m with you,\" he said carefully . \".
After a while, the person representing the village chief called his mobile phone.
It was reported that officials in the village were asking questions from reporters.
What the village official wants to know is what he is doing and who he is?
The call had an effect.
South Korea said it would cause too much trouble to point out to reporters in this field.
He asked the Postal car to stop and leave him on the side of the road to walk home.
Still, he is willing to talk openly about the impact of pollution on his family.
His big family.
Parents, siblings and children
Everyone lives in the area, he says, and he feels it\'s a responsibility to speak out what he thinks.
\"We have lived here for generations,\" Han said . \"
\"It will continue to hurt us if no one deals with it. \" While U. S.
Consumers don\'t seem to be involved-
Not being-
China\'s pollution, the truth is more complicated. The U. S.
Demand for cheap goods helps keep Chinese factories running.
China\'s emissions of two major pollutants exceed one quarter
Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides
According to a study published in the Journal of the National Academy of Sciences in 2014, the production of exported goods has been produced.
The largest share of exports to the United States.
In addition, the same researchers found that some pollution in China has reached the United States.
According to the study, air pollution drifted across the ocean and raised ozone levels in the western part of the country.
\"Outsourcing production to China does not always reduce the burden on American consumers. . .
According to the authors of the study, the study was conducted by a consortium of scientists from China and the United States.
The rise of electricity now-
The automotive industry is expected to be in lithium-
Ion battery business
Making the battery large enough to power the car will lead to a huge leap in demand.
The laptop only needs a familiar thin cylindrical lithium.
Ion battery called \"18650 s\"
\"There is less demand for smartphones.
But a typical electric car needs thousands of times more batteries.
Today, the most famous electric \"Gigabit factory\"
The car battery is a battery made by Tesla in the Nevada desert.
The company says it will produce 500,000 electricity.
Car batteries every year.
But this is just one of them.
About a dozen other battery Gigabit batteries are being planned around the world.
\"It\'s not just the story of Tesla,\" said Simon Morse, general manager of Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, which tracks demand and evaluates the price of raw materials in the industry.
\"Demand is rising everywhere, especially in China. \" -Todd C.
Frankel and Wang Yanan in Washington contributed to the report.