Chinese facing effects of pollution and birth defects

Posted on October 21, 2009 at 12:52am by

After years of neglect, the Chinese government has begun a crackdown against environmental crimes causing pollution-related health problems by closing the Huaqiang battery plant in Longyan after more than 120 children were found to have high levels of lead in their blood.

In China, the birth defect rate has almost doubled in the past decade as a result of pollution. This rise in pollution has caused extra fingers and toes, cleft lips, and congenital heart disease.

In Beijing alone, the rate was 170 per 10,000 births last year, a number significantly higher than the global average. Also, a 2007 World Bank study reports that 460,000 Chinese have died from water and air pollution, and the cancer rate has jumped by 19 percent in cities and 23 percent in rural areas in recent years. The School of Rock download The Visitor hd Thumbsucker hd

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Moon Zero Two movie About 95 percent of tumors attack the digestive system, and medical treatment for cancer is about 20 percent of China’s total medical expenditures (100 billion yuan, or in excess of 14.6 billion USD). Until recently, local authorities have tried to avoid taking any step against polluters by prosecuting those who complained about the pollution.

However, public opinion has become increasingly angry and vocal about the problem; last year’s melamine milk scandal where more than 300,000 children suffered kidney problems from drinking tainted milk has contributed to this outrage.