China Increasingly Relies on Synthetic Sand, Exploring Its Significant Implications
In a bid to preserve its sand reserves and mitigate environmental degradation, the Chinese government has taken decisive action against illegal sand mining activities. This shift in policy is the focus of a study published in the prestigious journal Nature Geoscience.
The study, which examines China's sand use pattern from 1995 to 2020, highlights the consequences of sand exploitation from oceans, rivers, and beaches. Such activities can lead to excessive flooding and degradation of marine ecosystems.
Over the years, China's overall sand supply has surged, with an approximate 400% increase over the study period. However, the proportion of natural sand has dropped significantly, from 80% to a mere 21%. This decline is due to the increased production of artificial sand, made by crushing rocks and leftover materials from mining.
Artificial sand production in China began in the early 2000s but gained popularity in 2010. Since then, the annual production of artificial sand has increased by 13%, making up an estimated 90% of the Chinese market. In fact, in 2011, the supply of manufactured sand overtook that of natural sand.
Desert sands, typically rounded and smooth, are less effective for construction purposes. On the other hand, for concrete, the rougher texture of river or beach sand is essential as it helps bind the materials together.
The shift from natural sand to manufactured sand is significant, especially in a country that has completed massive infrastructure construction. However, the rapid urbanization in China has caused a massive depletion of its natural construction material reserves, including sand.
Over 40% of cultivable land in China is degraded due to uncontrolled sand mining, pollution, and erosion. Extracting sand at this rate is unsustainable and could cause irreversible damage to the environment. Sand mining near aquifers can lower water tables, affecting water availability for humans, land animals, and agriculture.
Despite the significant shift towards manufactured sand, there is no information available about a study on the change of sand usage in China in 2024 or who published such a study. Nonetheless, the study serves as a crucial reminder of the need for sustainable practices in sand extraction and usage.
