A global
shortage of sand is prompting black-market gangs to steal large
amounts from rivers and beaches. Scientists are warning that the
global supply of sand is slipping through our fingers.
Statistics
show that worldwide, we go through 50 billion tons of sand every year
– twice the amount produced by every river in the world during the
same period.
According
to writer and journalist Vince Beiser, who wrote a book on the
subject, “Sand is the essential ingredient that makes modern life
possible. And we are starting to run out.”
That’s
mainly because the number and size of cities is exploding, especially
in the developing world, Beiser told Business Insider.
“Every
year there are more people on the planet, and every year more of them
move to cities. Since 1950, the world’s urban population has
ballooned to over 3.9 billion from 746 million,” he said.
The
demand for construction aggregates will rise by 5.2 percent annually
to 51.7 billion tons in 2019, according to researcher Freedonia
Group. Some estimate that sand’s share of the aggregate business is
already worth $70 billion in annual sales.
Up to 90
percent of the world's beaches have shrunk by an average of 40 meters
since 2008. Popular shores have replenished their dying beaches with
even more sand, imported from elsewhere. Up to 70 percent of Southern
California's beaches could be completely eroded by 2100.
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