TO GO WITH: China-commodities-mining-environment by Allison JacksonWorkers are seen on the upper level at a privately-owned rare earths factory on April 21, 2011, where one of dozens of operators processing rare earths, iron and coal in a dusty no-man’s land operate on the outskirts of Baotou city in Inner Monglia, northwest China, near where farmers living near the dumping ground for toxic chemicals and rare earths have lost their livelihoods. Farmers living near the tailings dam, a 10-square-kilometre expanse of toxic waste, say they have lost teeth and their hair has turned white while tests show the soil and water contain high levels of cancer-causing radioactive materials. AFP PHOTO/Frederic J. BROWN (Photo credit should read FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images)
