POLLUTION: Chinese children suffering more birth defects

Nearly 40 per cent more Chinese children are being born with birth
defects than in 2001, a new report by the World Health Organisation has
shown.

The rise, which is attributed to growing environmental pollution, has
seen birth defects increase from 104.9 per 10,000 births to 145.5 per
10,000 in 2006.

The Shanxi province - home to some of China's heaviest industries and a
centre for coal production - recorded the highest level of defects,
further indicating that coal-fired power plants are leading to a
dramatic decline in the population's health.

The World Bank estimates that some 460,000 Chinese die every year from
air and water pollution.


Date: 30/10/2007 Author:News
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