Draft:Xingtang

Xintang
Xintang is a denim-based industrial town, making one-third of all pairs of jeans sold globally from their factories, in Guangdong province. During the town's current operations, the factories produce about 300 million denim articles a year, employing over 220,000 people. Around two-thirds of the denim clothing made in China is produced in Xintang. However, the town's jeans industry shows much pollution caused by China’s clothing industry.

Pollution

The water quality has worsened a significant amount since the region’s remarkable economic growth began in the late 1970s, with more than 60% of waterways now classified as ‘polluted’. In a survey made by Greenpeace published in November 2010, the organization found in three sampling sites in Xintang, the amounts of lead, copper and cadmium in the riverbed exceeded national "soil environmental quality standards". One sample of river mud contained cadmium levels 128 times over the safe limit, and in another, the water's pH level was 11.95.

Working conditions

The poor working conditions affect worker well-being, as well as negatively impacting performance and productivity. Xintang includes poorly ventilated, dusty and dirty Chinese factories which have been using the process of sandblasting - a process that could cause a fatal respiratory disease known as silicosis which industry leaders, activists and medical practitioners agree is extremely dangerous.