He was treated for skin burns at the hospital, yet more than a year and a half later, a numbness prevails in his groin and stomach.  Ahmad still continues to use the herbicide in his crop, as it is the cheapest herbicide option. 

For Jingjing Zhang, this work isn’t about money. She’s never chased contingency fees or the kind of fame some crusading lawyers seek. Her rewards are quieter: a nonprofit salary, the trust of community partners, fragile progress. “I believe every case is a step forward,” she said during a recent interview. “Even if we lose, we show people that the law can be a tool for them — that they have rights.”

While factors such as loud noise, aging, injuries, and chronic illnesses can cause hearing impairment, a growing number of studies have found an unusual connection between air pollution and hearing loss.