>> TODAY ON "EARTH FOCUS," TOXIC ENVIRONMENTS: THE U.S. AND CHINA.

THE RISKS OF NATURAL GAS DRILLING IN THE MARCELLUS SHALE, FROM TOXIC CHEMICALS IN DRINKING WATER TO UNREGULATED DUMPING OF RADIOACTIVE WASTE.

AND CHINA'S ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES WITH JONATHAN WATTS, AUTHOR OF "WHEN A BILLION CHINESE JUMP."

COMING UP, ON "EARTH FOCUS."

COMING UP, ON "EARTH FOCUS."

IT'S CALLED MARCELLUS SHALE AND IT CONTAINS ENOUGH NATURAL GAS TO SUPPLY ALL U.S. GAS NEEDS FOR 14 YEARS.

BUT GAS DEVELOPMENT HERE CAN BE A CATASTROPHE IN THE MAKING.

TOXIC CHEMICALS AND METHANE GAS SEEP INTO DRINKING WATER, AND NOW EXPERTS FEAR SOMETHING WORSE: RADIOACTIVE RADIUM IN WASTE PRODUCTS.

THE GAS BUSINESS MAY BE BOOMING, BUT AT WHAT PRICE FOR PEOPLE?

BRITAIN'S "ECOLOGIST TV" EXPLORES THE SOCIAL AND ECOLOGICAL CONSEQUENCES OF GAS EXTRACTION IN THE MARCELLUS SHALE IN THIS ORIGINAL INVESTIGATIVE REPORT.

>> THIS IS BRADFORD COUNTY, NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA.

THIS PREVIOUSLY QUIET CORNER OF AMERICA IS NOW AT THE CENTER OF A RUSH FOR NATURAL GAS, EXTRACTED THROUGH A NEW DRILLING TECHNOLOGY CALLED HYDRAULIC FRACTURING, ALSO KNOWN AS FRACKING.

BUT AS "THE ECOLOGIST" DISCOVERED, FRACKING IS A HIGH-RISK PROCESS THAT THREATENS TO BOTH DESTROY THE ENVIRONMENT AND WRECK LIVES.

>> MAKES ME MAD.

MAKES ME VERY MAD, BECAUSE MY LIFE IS OVER WITHOUT MY WATER.

>> THERE WAS JUST, LIKE, THIS RED, NASTY WATER JUST COMING, JUST OOZING OUT THE SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN, JUST THE SIDE OF THE HILL.

>> AND NOW HYDRAULIC FRACTURING IS HEADING FOR EUROPE.

THE U.K., POLAND, FRANCE, AND GERMANY ARE ALL NEXT IN THE FRACK FIRING LINE.

THIS IS A PICTURE POSTCARD PART OF AMERICA, BUT BENEATH THESE ROLLING HILLS LIES A SEAM OF GAS-RICH ROCK CALLED MARCELLUS SHALE.

BUT THE SHALE GAS IS FAR FROM EASILY ACCESSIBLE.

>> THE PROCESS ITSELF IS THAT YOU DRILL DOWN A FEW THOUSAND FEET INTO A LAYER OF VERY DENSE SHALE, TURN THE WELL HORIZONTALLY, GO OUT AND PERFORM SOME OTHER OPERATIONS.

EVENTUALLY, YOU SET OFF CHARGES THAT BLOW HOLES IN THE PIPE.

AND THEN YOU FILL UP THE PIPE WITH A LIQUID, AND THE INTENT IS BASICALLY TO GET SAND BACK IN THE CRACKS OF THE ROCK TO HOLD IT APART SO THE GAS WILL FLOW.

>> GAS-DRILLING SITES, OR FRAC PADS, AS THEY ARE KNOWN, HAVE BEGUN TO APPEAR ALL OVER THE COUNTRYSIDE, BUT THESE ARE JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG.

PROFESSOR TONY INGRAFFEA IS ONE OF THE WORLD'S LEADING PIONEERS OF FRACTURE MECHANICS.

>> THE FACT IS THAT PENNSYLVANIA IS 3 YEARS INTO A 30-YEAR LARGE-SCALE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT.

THERE ARE FEWER THAN 2,000 MARCELLUS WELLS IN PENNSYLVANIA RIGHT NOW, BUT THEY'RE DRILLING THEM AT THE RATE OF 4 TO 5 PER DAY, AND THE RATE AT WHICH THEY'RE BEING DRILLED IS INCREASING.

THE INDUSTRY INTENDS TO DRILL BETWEEN 3,000 AND 5,000 WELLS PER YEAR FOR THE NEXT 30 YEARS IN PENNSYLVANIA, AND IF THEY GET THEIR WAY IN NEW YORK.

>> WITH MANY FARMERS STRUGGLING TO REMAIN PROFITABLE, THE LARGE ROYALTY PAYMENTS OFFERED FOR LAND MEANS THAT MANY ARE READILY SELLING OFF THEIR MINERAL RIGHTS.

FOR OTHERS, THERE IS ALSO THE PROMISE OF NEW JOBS.

AND ON A NATIONAL LEVEL, IT IS ARGUED THAT SHALE GAS IS A STEP TOWARDS ENERGY INDEPENDENCE.

BUT IN THE RUSH TO DRILL, CONCERNS ABOUT THE POTENTIAL RISKS OF FRACKING ARE BEING SWEPT ASIDE.

>> WHEN I FIRST HEARD ABOUT SHALE DRILLING, IT SOUNDED LIKE A PRETTY GOOD IDEA.

THE THING THAT REALLY GOT ME INTERESTED AND CONCERNED WAS I FOUND OUT THAT UNDER PROPOSED REGULATIONS FROM NEW YORK STATE, YOU COULD DRILL A GAS WELL 150 FEET FROM THIS RIVER OR THE LAKE THAT FEEDS IT, WHICH IS THE WATER SOURCE FOR THIS VILLAGE, AND THAT'S JUST INSANE.

>> ONE OF THE FIRST PROBLEMS OBSERVED IN COMMUNITIES CLOSE TO INTENSIVE FRACKING SITES HAS BEEN THE CONTAMINATION OF DOMESTIC WATER SUPPLIES.

"THE ECOLOGIST" SPOKE TO FAMILIES WHO HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DRINK WATER FROM THE TAP SINCE THE GAS COMPANIES STARTED FRACKING ON LAND CLOSE TO THEIR HOMES.

>> AND I DIDN'T TELL RONNIE ANYTHING ABOUT IT UNTIL PROBABLY A COUPLE DAYS LATER BECAUSE IT GOT WORSE.

I THOUGHT, "MAYBE THIS'LL GO AWAY, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS," BUT IT DIDN'T.

AND I SAID TO HIM--I SAID, "YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH OUR WATER."

>> WATER IS A COMMODITY.

YOU MIGHT NOT THINK IT IS WHEN YOU HAVE IT AND IT'S GOOD, BUT WHEN YOU LOSE IT, IT'S GONE.

YOU'LL NEVER GET IT BACK.

LIKE, WE WOULD TAKE A GLASS OF WATER OUT OF THE TAP, AND IT WOULD HAVE, LIKE, AN OIL BASE ON THE TOP.

YOU COULD SMELL IT.

IT SMELLED LIKE DIESEL FUEL, OR SOME KIND OF OIL THING.

YOU KNOW, I USED TO GO TO MY SINK AND GET A GLASS OF WATER.

I CAN'T DO THAT ANYMORE.

I HAVE TO PUT LOTION ON MY HANDS 3 TIMES A DAY FROM USING THE WATER FREE...EVEN WASH MY DISHES OR WASH MY CLOTHES OR ANYTHING.

>> MEANWHILE, INCREASED LEVELS OF METHANE GAS IN WATER SUPPLIES HAVE BEEN REPORTED IN AREAS OF INTENSIVE DRILLING.

>> THIS IS THE WATER.

IT'S IN MY WELL, AND SUPPOSEDLY I'M SUPPOSED TO BE DRINKING THIS.

>> ONE OF THE KEY PROBLEMS WITH THE FRACKING PROCESS IS ITS RELIANCE UPON HUGE VOLUMES OF WATER THAT ARE COMBINED WITH AN ARRAY OF HARMFUL CHEMICALS.

CAROLYN KNAPP IS AN ORGANIC FARMER.

>> I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THEY SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO PUT CHEMICALS INTO MY GROUND, CHEMICALS THAT ARE NOT ALLOWED, BY MY CERTIFICATION, TO BE PUT IN THE GROUND.

CHEMICALS THAT I FEEL CAN DO HARM TO MY FAMILY, TO THE PEOPLE AROUND ME, AND I DON'T FEEL--I FEEL VIOLATED.

>> NONE OF THOSE CHEMICALS ARE PALATABLE--YOU KNOW, METHANOL, HYDROCHLORIC ACID, ETHYLENE GLYCOL.

IT'S ABOUT HALF OF 1% OF THE FRACKING FLUID IS A CHEMICAL--OR IS REALLY A COCKTAIL OF CHEMICALS, AND-- BUT DO THE MATH ON THAT.

THAT MEANS THAT THAT'S 5,000 GALLONS PER WELL IS CHEMICALS, OR TOXIC CHEMICALS THAT GOES IN.

SO IF THERE'S 8 WELLS PER PAD SITE, THAT'S 40,000 GALLONS OF TOXIC CHEMICALS.

>> AND WE'RE LOSING FARMS FAR TOO QUICKLY AS IT IS, AND TO HAVE ONE MORE CIRCUMSTANCE THAT MAKES US LOSE THE FARMS QUICKER IS ALL THE QUICKER THAT THEY'LL BE GONE.

THERE WILL BE NO MORE SMALL FAMILY FARMS.

>> THE RUSH FOR GAS HAS HAD OTHER EFFECTS ON THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.

SMALL TOWNS HAVE BECOME CLOGGED WITH GAS-INDUSTRY TRUCKS.

>> I HAVE TO SAY THE DAYS OF HAVING A NICE CONVERSATION, SITTING OUT IN FRONT OF THE DINER, ARE LONG GONE.

MAIN STREET'S NOISIER AND LOUDER NOW THAN EVER AS A RESULT OF THE LARGE TRUCKS THAT THE INDUSTRY REQUIRES.

THEY RUN NONSTOP 24 HOURS A DAY THROUGH TOWN, AND, YEAH, THE NOISE IS LOUDER THAN EVER.

>> WHILST THE INCREASE IN TRAFFIC REPRESENTS AN INCONVENIENCE FOR LOCAL PEOPLE, THE HIGH VOLUME OF TRUCKS POINT TO FAR MORE SERIOUS PROBLEMS.

>> ONCE THE CHEMICALS ARE INJECTED AND THE FRACTURING PROCESS IS COMPLETE, A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF THAT FLUID COMES BACK UP.

SO WE HAVE PURPOSELY POLLUTED LARGE QUANTITIES OF FRESHWATER WITH CHEMICALS THAT DO NOT BELONG IN A HUMAN ENVIRONMENT, AND NOW WE HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY--THE INDUSTRY AND THE LANDOWNERS HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY--TO DISPOSE OF THEM PROPERLY, BUT WE'RE TALKING ENORMOUS QUANTITIES.

>> WHEREAS ENERGY-RICH TEXAS HAS OVER 11,000 DISPOSAL WELLS, THE TEMPERATE GEOGRAPHY OF PENNSYLVANIA MEANS THAT ONLY A FEW EXIST--HARDLY ENOUGH TO CATER FOR THE THOUSANDS OF WELLS PLANNED IN COMING YEARS.

BUT THE SAFE DISPOSAL OF FRAC FLUID IS NOT THE ONLY CONCERN.

>> THE AMOUNT OF FLUID THAT'S RUNNING AROUND OUT THERE LITERALLY IN TANKER TRUCKS-- YOU KNOW, THOUSANDS OF TANKER TRUCKS--IS SUCH THAT ONE TANKER TRUCK GOING OFF THE ROAD WITH FRACKING CHEMICALS IN IT INTO A RIVER WOULD PRETTY MUCH WIPE IT OUT.

THIS IS LIKE TAKING THAT ROUGH AND TUMBLE, HIGHLY INDUSTRIALIZED ACTIVITY AND PLOPPING IT RIGHT DOWN IN THE COTSWOLDS--YOU KNOW, MAYBE NOT SUCH A GOOD IDEA.

>> TRUMAN BARNETT'S RETIREMENT DREAM HAS BEEN DESTROYED AFTER A GAS-INDUSTRY TRUCK SPILLED A SMALL AMOUNT OF POLLUTED FRAC WATER ONTO HIS PROPERTY.

>> MY WIFE HAD SOME HEALTH PROBLEMS AND THIS WAS HER RECOVERY AREA, AND WE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF HEAVEN.

THE ONLY THING YOU HEARD AT NIGHTTIME HERE WAS YOUR HEARTBEAT.

NOW IT'S JUST TOTALLY DEVASTATED.

AND THE WATER DUMPED OUT, DOWN OFF THEIR PAD, DOWN ACROSS MY LAND INTO MY POND, THROUGH THE POND AND INTO THE WETLAND HERE ALONGSIDE ME.

AND WHAT IT DID, IT KILLED THE POND.

IT KILLED THE FISH.

IT KILLED EVERYTHING IN THE POND...NO FROGS, NO TURTLES--NOTHING.

OUR DRINKING WATER IN OUR HOUSE HAS HIGH CONCENTRATIONS OF LEAD.

THEY'VE RECOMMENDED--OR THEY'VE TOLD US NOT TO DRINK IT AND DON'T BATHE IN IT.

FROM OUR HEAVEN, NOW IT'S TURNED INTO OUR HELL.

>> THE ESTIMATE OF THE PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PRESERVATION IS ONE SERIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN FOR EVERY 150 WELLS DRILLED TO DATE.

YOU DO THE MATH.

IF WE'RE TALKING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF WELLS, WE'RE DOING HUNDREDS OR THOUSANDS OF SPILLS--THAT'S CALLED CUMULATIVE IMPACT.

SO IT GOES TO THE HEART OF YOUR QUESTION: WHY ARE YOU NOT SEEING ALL THESE THINGS YET?

BECAUSE THE CUMULATIVE IMPACT IS ACCUMULATING.

COME BACK IN 10 YEARS.

>> "THE ECOLOGIST" MET WITH AN EX-GAS-INDUSTRY EMPLOYEE WHO DESCRIBED A SPILL ON A SITE THAT HE WORKED ON.

>> SOME OF THE SITES ARE WELL-REGULATED, YEAH, WHERE D.E.P.

AND OSHA AND STUFF LIKE THAT, WHERE THEY'RE RIGHT ON THEM AND STUFF.

YEAH, THEY'RE WELL-REGULATED.

BUT THE REST OF THE 95% OF THEM WHERE THEY'RE NOT GONNA GO OUT TO THE SITE AND LOOK AT THEM, NO.

NO, THEY'RE NOT WELL-REGULATED.

SOME OF THEM ARE REAL BAD.

I'VE SEEN CHEMICALS COME OUT OF THE SIDE-- LITERALLY, THE SIDE.

IT LOOKED LIKE THE MOUNTAIN WAS BLEEDING.

THEY HAD--IT LOOKS LIKE A PLATEAU.

THEY HAD THE PAD HERE, AND THEY HAD, LIKE, THE BARRIER FENCE AROUND IT, AND THERE WAS JUST, LIKE, THIS RED, NASTY WATER JUST COMING, JUST OOZING OUT THE SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN, JUST THE SIDE OF THE HILL.

SO THEY'RE NOT DOING SOMETHING RIGHT.

>> BUT A TOXIC COCKTAIL OF CHEMICALS IS NOT THE ONLY WORRYING COMPONENT IN FRACK WASTEWATER.

CRITICS ARGUE IT COULD CONTAIN FAR MORE DANGEROUS SUBSTANCES.

>> THESE SHALE DEPOSITS ARE RICH IN RADIUM, RADIUM 226.

THE LEVEL OF RADIUM IN THE MARCELLUS IS ABOUT 267 TIMES THE SAFE DISPOSAL AMOUNT, MEANING THAT IT'LL KILL YOU.

SO THERE'S ALSO--THERE'S ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE THAT THESE FRAC FLUIDS WILL LEACH URANIUM OUT OF THESE SHALE DEPOSITS.

THERE'S ALSO RADON IN THESE SHALE DEPOSITS.

SO IN ADDITION TO THE FRACKING FLUID, WHICH WE KNOW IS TOXIC, THE FRAC FLOWBACK LEACHES RADIUM OUT OF THE SHALE.

THE RADIUM IS CARCINOGENIC, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S BEING INTRODUCED TO THE SURFACE IN A SPILL THAT WASN'T THERE BEFORE.

>> AS THE PROFILE OF THE POTENTIAL DANGERS OF HYDRAULIC FRACTURING GROWS, BOTH PUBLIC AND EXPERTS ARE BECOMING INCREASINGLY CONCERNED BY THE RAPID EXPANSION OF FRACKING.

BUT THE GAS INDUSTRY HAVE HIT BACK WITH EXPENSIVE ADS, P.R.

CAMPAIGNS, AND HIGH-LEVEL LOBBYING.

>> IT'S--THE COST-BENEFIT OF B.S., OF P.R., OF ADS, AND PAYOFFS TO POLITICIANS IS EXTRAORDINARY.

THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT OF PAYING OFF A POLITICIAN, RUNNING AN AD, DISCREDITING CRITICS IS--IT'S ONE OF THE BEST INVESTMENTS THAT THE INDUSTRY CAN MAKE.

>> ALTHOUGH THEY DECLINED AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON CAMERA, A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE MARCELLUS SHALE COALITION, WHICH REPRESENTS THE GAS INDUSTRY, TOLD "THE ECOLOGIST" THAT GAS EXTRACTED FROM FRACKING IS BOTH SAFE AND "A PANACEA FOR AMERICA, OFFERING A FUEL THAT IS BOTH A CLEANER AND A MORE SECURE CHOICE THAN RELYING ON FOREIGN ENERGY SUPPLIES."

BUT PROFESSOR INGRAFFEA DISAGREES.

>> BECAUSE, IN GENERAL, IN THE USAGE FRAMEWORK, OIL AND GAS ARE NOT INTERCHANGEABLE.

PETROLEUM IS LARGELY USED FOR TRANSPORTATION; NATURAL GAS IS LARGELY USED FOR HEATING AND FOR INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITY.

SO UNTIL YOU CAN SHOW ME A PLAN AS PART OF A NATIONAL ENERGY PLAN TO TRANSFORM OUR TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM IN THE UNITED STATES TO ONE THAT USES NATURAL GAS, ALL RIGHT, THAT ARGUMENT IS SPEECHLESS.

NATURAL GAS BURNS CLEANER THAN ANY OTHER FOSSIL FUEL, BUT IT IS NOT CLEANER IN ITS LIFE CYCLE.

STUDIES THAT ARE BEING DONE AT CORNELL UNIVERSITY RIGHT NOW THAT ARE GONNA BE RELEASED SOON IN PEER-REVIEW JOURNALS WILL SHOW CONCLUSIVELY THAT THE LIFE CYCLE COST IN TERMS OF CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSION AND METHANE EMISSION FROM THE DEVELOPMENT OF GAS FROM UNCONVENTIONAL SOURCES LIKE SHALE IS AT LEAST AS "DIRTY" AS COAL.

>> PROFESSOR INGRAFFEA IS ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT UNREGULATED FRACTURING PRACTICES SPREADING AROUND THE WORLD.

>> NOT ONLY DO WE NOW HAVE A TECHNOLOGY THAT HAS EXCEEDED OUR REGULATORY CAPACITY, WE HAVE A GOVERNMENT SAYING SOMETHING THAT'S AHEAD OF THE TECHNOLOGY.

SO I'M REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT PEOPLE IN EUROPE, INDIA, ASIA, AFRICA THAT ARE GONNA JUMP INTO THIS, AGAIN, TOO SOON WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING COMPLETELY WHAT THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS USE OF TECHNOLOGY ARE ON ENVIRONMENT AND HUMAN HEALTH.

>> BUT DESPITE THE CONCERNS OF EXPERTS FROM ACROSS THE SPECTRUM, FRACKING IN PENNSYLVANIA IS SET TO CONTINUE.

RALPH KISBERG, A CAMPAIGNER AGAINST THE GAS INDUSTRY, OFFERS A SOBER ASSESSMENT.

>> YOU GOT TO REALIZE THE VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE HERE THINK IT'S WONDERFUL.

THEY THINK THERE'LL BE JOBS.

THEY THINK THEY'LL BE ABLE TO KEEP THEIR FAMILIES HERE.

THEY'LL BE ABLE TO PAY FOR EDUCATION.

BUT WE FIND--AS YOU'VE SEEN, WHEN YOU TALK TO PEOPLE, THAT ALL IS GOOD ON PAPER.

BUT WHEN THINGS HAPPEN THAT RUIN THE VALUE OF YOUR PROPERTY, RUIN THE HEALTH OF YOUR FAMILY, THEN THAT ALL GOES OUT THE WINDOW.

>> WITH HYDRAULIC FRACTURING SET TO EXPAND ACROSS EUROPE IN THE COMING YEARS, HOW GOVERNMENTS RESPOND TO THIS NEW TECHNOLOGY WILL BE CRUCIAL.

BUT THE LURE OF A NEW DOMESTIC ENERGY SOURCE AND THE PROMISE OF JOBS IN REGIONS STARVED OF INVESTMENT MAY PROVE TOO POWERFUL A COMBINATION TO OPPOSE.

>> POTENTIAL BENEFITS NEED TO BE BALANCED AGAINST ACCEPTABLE RISK.

FOR THAT, YOU NEED FACTS, LIKE WHAT'S REALLY IN THE 5 MILLION GALLONS OF FLUID, INCLUDING THE 75,000 GALLONS OF CHEMICALS, USED TO FRACK A SINGLE WELL?

UNDER THE BUSH A SINGLE WELL?

UNDER THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION'S ENERGY POLICY ACT OF 2005, COMPANIES DIDN'T HAVE TO TELL YOU.

HOWEVER, IN SEPTEMBER, 2010, 8 COMPANIES RESPONDED TO AN EPA REQUEST FOR INFORMATION.

IT TOOK A SUBPOENA TO GET HALLIBURTON, THE COMPANY THAT PIONEERED FRACKING, TO RESPOND.

FRACKING CHEMICALS ARE LINKED TO BONE, LIVER, AND BREAST CANCERS, GASTROINTESTINAL, CIRCULATORY, RESPIRATORY, DEVELOPMENTAL, AS WELL AS BRAIN AND NERVOUS SYSTEM DISORDERS, AND THEY ARE IN FRACK WASTE AND MAY FIND THEIR WAY INTO DRINKING WATER AND AIR.

AND IT GETS WORSE.

TODAY, WASTE FROM PENNSYLVANIA GAS WELLS, WASTE THAT MAY ALSO CONTAIN UNACCEPTABLE LEVELS OF RADIUM, IS ROUTINELY DUMPED ACROSS STATE LINES INTO LANDFILLS IN NEW YORK, OHIO, AND WEST VIRGINIA.

NEW YORK DOES NOT REQUIRE TESTING WASTE FOR RADIOACTIVITY PRIOR TO DUMPING OR TREATMENT.

SO DRILL CUTTINGS FROM PENNSYLVANIA HAVE BEEN DUMPED IN NEW YORK'S CHEMUNG AND OTHER COUNTIES SINCE 2009, AND LIQUID WASTE IS SHIPPED TO TREATMENT PLANTS IN AUBURN AND WATERTOWN, NEW YORK.

IT IS IRONIC THAT NEW YORK STATE, THE FIRST IN THE NATION TO PUT A TEMPORARY HOLD ON FRACKING, PENDING A SAFETY REVIEW, NEVERTHELESS ALLOWS OTHER STATES TO DUMP FRACK WASTE WITHIN ITS BOUNDARIES.

HOW RADIOACTIVE IS THIS WASTE?

EXPERTS ARE CALLING FOR TESTING AND ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE CONTAMINATION OF THE DRINKING SUPPLY OF MAJOR POPULATION CENTERS, INCLUDING NEW YORK CITY.

WITH THE GAS PRODUCTION BOOM UNDERWAY IN THE MARCELLUS SHALE, AND PLANS FOR SOME-400,000 WELLS IN THE COMING DECADES, THE CUMULATIVE IMPACT OF DUMPING POTENTIAL LETHAL WASTE WITHOUT ADEQUATE OVERSIGHT IS A CATASTROPHE WAITING TO HAPPEN.

CHINA WENT FROM POVERTY TO ECONOMIC HEAVYWEIGHT IN ONE ECONOMIC HEAVYWEIGHT IN ONE OF THE GREATEST BURSTS OF DEVELOPMENT IN HISTORY, BUT HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT PAID A PRICE.

WITH A POPULATION OF 1.3 BILLION, SEVERE AIR AND WATER POLLUTION AND A RELENTLESS RATE OF GROWTH MAKING IT THE WORLD'S TOP CARBON EMITTER, THE ENVIRONMENTAL DECISIONS THAT CHINA MAKES WILL AFFECT THE FUTURE FOR ALL MANKIND.

JONATHAN WATTS IS THE ASIA ENVIRONMENTAL CORRESPONDENT FOR "THE GUARDIAN," ONE OF THE U.K.'s LEADING NEWSPAPERS.

HE RECENTLY TRAVELED MORE THAN 100,000 MILES ACROSS CHINA TO LOOK AT THE STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT.

HE SHARES HIS INSIGHTS WITH "EARTH FOCUS" CORRESPONDENT MILES BENSON.

>> JONATHAN WATTS, YOU'VE WRITTEN A BOOK CALLED "WHEN A BILLION CHINESE JUMP."

WHERE DID YOU GET THIS TITLE ABOUT A BILLION CHINESE JUMPING?

>> I CHOSE THIS AS A TITLE FOR TWO REASONS.

ONE, BECAUSE I THINK IT SHOWS THAT FEARS OF CHINA CAN BE IRRATIONAL--BECAUSE IT'S BIG, BECAUSE IT'S THE OTHER, BECAUSE IT'S FAR AWAY AND UNKNOWABLE.

BUT ALSO BECAUSE THERE IS A VERY REAL REASON TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT CHINA, WHICH IS NOT THAT IT'S BECOMING FURTHER AWAY FROM US BUT IT'S ACTUALLY BECOMING MORE LIKE US, AND THAT WE ARE THE PROBLEM.

WE, WITH OUR UNSUSTAINABLE LIVING STANDARDS AND LIFESTYLE AND CONSUMPTION HABITS, WE ARE THE PROBLEM.

SO A BILLION PEOPLE IN RICH COUNTRIES HAVE ALREADY MADE THE JUMP, AND THERE ARE SEVERAL BILLION MORE LINING UP BEHIND CHINA TO MAKE THE JUMP, AND CHINA'S RIGHT THERE IN THE MIDDLE AT THE POTENTIAL TIPPING POINT.

>> YOU'VE SPENT 7 YEARS IN CHINA.

YOU SAW ALL SORTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION.

WHAT WAS THE WORST OF IT?

>> YOU VISIT CANCER VILLAGES.

THERE'S A WOMAN I MET CALLED ZHENG GUMEI, AND SHE--SHE LIVES IN A VILLAGE IN YUNNAN PROVINCE AND SHE HAS CANCER, AND SHE'S UNDERGOING CHEMOTHERAPY.

>> [SPEAKING CHINESE] >> SHE BELIEVES HER CANCER HAS BEEN CAUSED BY THE CHEMICAL FACTORY ON THE EDGE OF HER VILLAGE, AND HER DOCTOR BELIEVES IT'S BECAUSE OF THE CHEMICAL FACTORY, THAT THERE ARE MORE AND MORE CASES OF CANCER IN THE VILLAGE.

AND THE LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICIAL SAYS, "WELL, WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH THE DISCHARGES FROM THESE FACTORIES, BUT THEY DO IT AT NIGHT WHEN WE'RE NOT LOOKING AND THEY HAVE SECRET PIPES.

SO IT'S REALLY HARD TO CATCH THEM."

AND SO THAT'S THE FIRST STORY I WOULD SAY.

THE SECOND IS MORE TO DO WITH THE NATURAL WORLD AND A LOSS OF BIODIVERSITY, A LOSS OF COLOR, OF VARIETY.

THE BIGGEST VICTIM-- OR AT LEAST THE HIGHEST-PROFILE VICTIM--WAS THE BAIJI DOLPHIN, THE YANGTZE RIVER DOLPHIN.

THIS IS A SPECIES THAT'S BEEN ON EARTH FOR 20 MILLION YEARS, USED TO BE WORSHIPPED BY MANKIND.

A FRESHWATER DOLPHIN, SQUINTY-EYED, LONG NOSE--CUTE LITTLE THING.

ITS NUMBERS HAVE DECLINED PRECIPITOUSLY OVER THE PAST FEW DECADES PARTLY BECAUSE OF RIVER TRAFFIC, PARTLY BECAUSE OF POLLUTION, PARTLY BECAUSE OF VERY IRRESPONSIBLE FISHING PRACTICES SUCH AS USING ELECTRICITY, USING EXPLOSIVES TO FISH.

>> YOUR BOOK DESCRIBES A CHINA FULL OF SMOKE AND HAZE, AND IT HAS NOW REACHED THE POINT OF BEING THE WORLD'S LARGEST EMITTER OF CO2, WHICH IS THE GREENHOUSE GAS SCIENTISTS BELIEVE IS CAUSING GLOBAL WARMING, AND IT'S GOING TO GET WORSE IN CHINA, THE EMISSIONS PROBLEM.

HAVE WE ALREADY GONE OVER THE BRINK?

>> I WOULD SAY THAT THERE IS-- THERE ARE SIGNS THAT PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO CHANGE DIRECTION, AND WITHIN CHINA I WOULD SAY THERE ARE VERY STRONG SIGNS THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO CHANGE DIRECTION, AND IN A SENSE, THAT'S THE BRIGHT SIDE OF THE CRISIS.

WHEN YOU HAVE A VERY BAD CRISIS, YOU HAVE TO DO SOMETHING OR YOU PERISH.

SO CHINA CANNOT JUST OUTSOURCE ITS PROBLEMS TO OTHER COUNTRIES IN THE SAME WAY THAT EUROPE AND THE UNITED STATES AND JAPAN AND OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE OUTSOURCED THEIR HIGH-POLLUTING, ENERGY-INTENSIVE, CARBON-EMITTING INTERESTS-- INDUSTRIES.

IT'S ALL HAPPENING WITHIN CHINA AT THE MOMENT, PRETTY MUCH EVERY ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEM YOU CAN THINK OF.

THE GOVERNMENT IS--THEY ARE AWARE OF IT.

THESE ARE NOT FOOLISH PEOPLE.

YOU HAVE A PRESIDENT WHO'S A HYDRO ENGINEER: HU JINTAO.

YOU HAVE A PRIME MINISTER WHO'S A GEOLOGIST: WEN JIABAO.

SO YOU HAVE EXPERTS ON WATER AND EXPERTS ON THE EARTH.

THEY'RE VERY WELL AWARE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING.

THEY'RE NOT STICKING THEIR HEADS INTO THE GROUND LIKE OSTRICHES.

>> BUT NONE OF THOSE CHINESE LEADERS WANTS TO GET IN THE WAY OF GROWTH.

>> THE OVERRIDING PRIORITY OF THE CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY IS STABILITY.

UNTIL NOW, THAT MEANS GROWTH...AND PRETTY MUCH ONLY GROWTH.

AS LONG AS YOU CAN KEEP THE ECONOMY GROWING, YOU WILL HAVE A STABLE NATION.

YOU CAN RULE THAT COUNTRY.

IT'S NOT GONNA FALL APART.

BUT IF THE ENVIRONMENT STARTS TO BECOME A THREAT TO STABILITY, WHICH I THINK IT HAS--AND YOU SEE A LOT OF PROTESTS RELATED TO THE ENVIRONMENT IN CHINA.

WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW MANY BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT'S STOPPED RELEASING FIGURES, BUT I'VE CERTAINLY SEEN THE AFTERMATH OF SEVERAL LARGE PROTESTS.

AND-- SO IT IS A SOCIAL ISSUE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE.

IT'S A SECURITY ISSUE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE.

WE'RE NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT CLEAN WATER AND CLEAN AIR AND A PRETTY LANDSCAPE.

ALTHOUGH ECONOMIC GROWTH REMAINS THE PRIORITY AND THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR MAINTAINING STABILITY, THE ENVIRONMENT IS AN INCREASINGLY LARGE FACTOR.

AND SO WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IS A MIX, A POLICY MIX.

IT IS STILL ECONOMY FIRST, BUT TRYING TO BRING IN MORE AND MORE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS.

>> ARE THE CHINESE PEOPLE AWARE OF THE THREAT TO THEIR FOOD SUPPLIES AS A RESULT OF GLOBAL WARMING?

>> FIRST OF ALL, IT'S DEFINITELY A CONCERN.

BECAUSE CHINA IS A COUNTRY WHERE, WITHIN LIVING MEMORY, THERE WAS AN APPALLING FAMINE THAT KILLED 20 MILLION TO 40 MILLION PEOPLE.

SO FOOD SECURITY IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.

HOWEVER, CITIES ARE EXPANDING.

THEY'RE EATING INTO FARMLAND, AND IN SOME CASES, THE QUALITY OF THE SOIL IS DEGRADING BECAUSE OF POLLUTION OR BECAUSE OF EXCESSIVE USE OF FERTILIZER OR BECAUSE OF EXPANDING DESERTS.

SO THERE'S THIS CONSTANT BATTLE TO TRY TO MAINTAIN ENOUGH FOOD TO FEED THE NATION OR TO IMPORT ENOUGH FOOD TO FEED THE NATION.

BUT THIS IS A REAL CONCERN, AND THERE ARE A NUMBER OF CHALLENGES.

IF TEMPERATURES CONTINUE TO RISE, THAT WILL INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD OF DESERTS EXPANDING AND EATING INTO MORE LAND.

IT COULD CHANGE CROP YIELDS IN SOME AREAS FOR THE BETTER, IN SOME AREAS FOR THE WORSE.

THERE ARE PROBLEMS IN XINJIANG, IN PARTICULAR.

THE GLACIAL MELTWATER IS ESSENTIAL FOR THE CITIES THERE FOR IRRIGATION, AND WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IS THAT THE RATE AT WHICH THOSE GLACIERS ARE MELTING HAS, IN MANY CASES, ACCELERATED.

SO IN THE SHORT TERM, YOU GET A WATER BOOM.

YOU GET KIND OF A BONUS, BUT IT'S DECEPTIVE BECAUSE THIS WILL LAST AS LONG AS THE GLACIER LASTS.

AND IF THE GLACIER'S NOT KIND OF BEING REPLENISHED TO THE SAME LEVEL THAT IT USED TO BE, IT'S GONNA RUN DOWN, AND YOUR WATER BOOM IS GONNA TURN INTO A WATER BUST.

AND SO JUST RECENTLY, THE GOVERNMENT HAS ANNOUNCED THAT IT PLANS TO BUILD A PIPE ALL THE WAY ACROSS CHINA TO TAKE WATER FROM THE SEA THAT WILL BE DESALINATED AND PIPE IT ALL THE WAY ACROSS TO THE FAR SIDE OF CHINA.

THAT'S A VERY LONG WAY.

THAT'S A VERY EXPENSIVE PROJECT, AND I THINK THAT SHOWS THE LEVEL OF DESPERATION WITH REGARD TO WATER.

WATER IS CHINA'S BIGGEST PROBLEM RIGHT NOW.

>> EVEN IF CHINA PURSUES A NEW ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS COURSE, IT IS ALSO PLANNING TO CONTINUE ALL OF ITS EMISSIONS AND ADD TO THEM, ISN'T IT?

>> CHINA WILL CONTINUE TO-- TO EMIT MORE CARBON FOR, AT THE VERY LEAST, ANOTHER DECADE... AND PROBABLY ANOTHER TWO OR THREE DECADES.

SO I THINK THAT'S INEVITABLE, BECAUSE THE ONLY WAY YOU COULD STOP THAT IS TO SAY, "WELL, YOU CAN'T IMPROVE YOUR LIVING STATUS," AND YOU CAN'T SAY THAT TO CHINA.

I MEAN, THAT IS SO INCREDIBLY UNREASONABLE WHEN THEY'RE STILL SO FAR, SO MUCH BELOW THE STANDARDS IN THE WESTERN WORLD.

SO THE KEY AT THE MOMENT IS FOR CHINA TO GROW AS EFFICIENTLY AS POSSIBLE SO THERE IS AS LITTLE WASTE AS POSSIBLE.

THE INCREASE IS KEPT TO THE LOWEST POSSIBLE LEVEL, AND TO SEE AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE A TIME WHEN THOSE CARBON EMISSIONS WILL PEAK, AND WHEN THE USE OF OTHER TYPES OF ENERGY CAN START TO OVERTAKE THEM.

AND, OF COURSE, AT THE SAME TIME, THAT WILL REQUIRE INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION.

IT WILL REQUIRE SACRIFICES BY RICHER NATIONS, AS WELL.

BUT THAT IS AN EXTRAORDINARY DIFFICULT THING TO DO.

>> SO THE CHINESE JUMP INTO INDUSTRIALIZATION AND GROWTH REALLY COULD KNOCK THE WORLD OFF ITS AXIS?

>> HA HA HA!

IT WILL MAKE THE WORLD A VERY HOT PLACE.

WE MIGHT WELL STAY WHERE WE ARE, BUT IT MIGHT NOT BE SUCH A NICE PLACE TO BE.

>> JONATHAN WATTS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, INDEED.