Author(s)

Zicheng Shan

Corresponding Author

Zicheng Shan

ABSTRACT

This paper investigates the social impacts of sludge pollution, measured in health, environmental and economic aspects. The paper applies the method of case study, in which two vivid stories about Yongding Town and Chaoyang City in China are examined. Included in the case study method is the idea of event study and counterfactual analysis commonly used in econometrics to enhance reliability. The main finding of this paper is that sludge pollution has significant negative social impacts. Sludge pollutes the environment through the soil and water system, increases the morbidity of certain diseases such as pulmonary tuberculosis, and decreases the natural growth rate while suppressing innovations of the economy in polluted areas. Worse, the negative social impacts on the environment, health, and economy interact, forming a vicious cycle and leading to cumulative disadvantage in polluted areas. The paper concluded by providing a case-based solution matrix for both prevention and treatment in technological, economic and community dimensions.

KEYWORDS

Sludge Pollution, Social Impacts, Case Study, Counterfactual Analysis