tˈæn bɪkˌeɪm ˈɪntɹɛstᵻd ɪn ɛnvˌaɪɹənmˈɛntəl ˈɪʃuːz fˈɑːloʊɪŋ ˈeɪpɹəl tˈuː θˈaʊzənd fˈaɪv vˈaɪələnt stɹˈʌɡəlz ˌoʊvɚ pəlˈuːʃən ænd kɚɹˈʌpʃən ɪnðə tˈaʊn ʌv hjˈuːɐʃjˌuːi, ʒˈɛdʒjɑːŋ, wˌɛɹ mˈɛni ɹˈɛzᵻdənts bᵻlˈiːv ðæt ɹᵻlˈiːsᵻz ʌv tˈɑːksɪk sˈʌbstənsᵻz fɹʌm kˈɛmɪkəl plˈænts ˌɪntʊ ðə wˈɔːɾɚ səplˈaɪ ɑːɹ dᵻstɹˈɔɪɪŋ kɹˈɑːps ænd kˈɔːzɪŋ bˈɜːθ dˈiːfɛkts.
Tan became interested in environmental issues following April 2005's violent struggles over pollution and corruption in the town of Huashui, Zhejiang, where many residents believe that releases of toxic substances from chemical plants into the water supply are destroying crops and causing birth defects.