(China) Pollution makes cancer the top killer - China Daily

[Eugene]

Source: China Daily

Pollution makes cancer the top killer
By Xie Chuanjiao (China Daily)
Updated: 2007-05-21 06:19

Air and water pollution combined with widespread use of food
additives and pesticides made cancer the top killer in China
last year, according to a recent government survey.

Cancer topped the list of the 10 most lethal diseases for urban
residents last year, followed by cerebrovascular diseases and
heart ailments, according to the survey in 30 cities and 78
counties released by the Ministry of Health.

"The main reason behind the rising number of cancer cases is
that pollution of the environment, water and air is getting
worse day by day," said Chen Zhizhou, a health expert with
the cancer research institute affiliated to the Chinese
Academy of Medical Sciences.

-snip-

The survey, the first of its kind in recent years, showed that
the death rate from cancer has risen to 19 percent in cities
and 23 percent in rural areas.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2007-05/21/content_876476.htm

[Possumpoint]

1. Yes

There was an article in the Washington Post yesterday detailing how the absence of enough FDA inspectors is allowing tainted food to be imported from China. Makes one wonder what other contaminations exist on other goods being imported from there.

Washington Post:www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18729540/

[Dogmudgeon]

2. Heavy smoking might also have something to do with it

Tobacco use has boomed since the Cultural Revolution. A cousin of mine who worked teaching English in Beijing noted that the Chinese seem to have a cigarette culture similar to what we had in the USA and Europe in the early 1960s.

--p!