China admits existence of pollution-linked 'cancer villages'

Facing flak over poor pollution control measures, China for the first time has admitted the existence of "cancer villages" due to the production of certain harmful chemicals banned in developed countries.
The statement from the Environment Ministry came following scathing public criticism for poor pollution control measures as industrial waste, hazardous smog and other environmental and health consequences of years of rapid growth has made life miserable.
"Poisonous and harmful chemical materials have brought about many water and atmosphere emergencies... Certain places are even seeing 'cancer villages'," said a five-year plan that was highlighted this week.
Certain harmful chemicals banned in developed countries are still used or produced in China, where toxic pollution is severe in certain areas and making some villages highly prone to cancer, China's Environmental Protection Ministry admitted, state-run Global Times reported today.

The admission came after a Chinese entrepreneur offered pollution control authority chief Zhejiang a USD 33000 reward to swim in a local polluted river for 20 minutes.
Jin Zengmin, chief executive of a Hangzhou eyeglasses retailer, posted three photos on his Chinese Twitter microblog showing the river in small-town Ruian entirely blocked by floating rubbish. He blamed a rubber overshoe factory for dumping industrial waste into the river.

A work plan by the environment ministry to prevent and control chemical pollution specifically listed 58 kinds of chemicals that needed strict supervision for their production, use and discharge.
"It is the first time that the ministry clearly put forward these dangerous chemicals, which will serve as a guide for the prevention and control of toxic substances in the future," Wu Yixiu, a senior campaigner from Greenpeace China told the daily.

It is also rare for the government to admit the existence of cancer clusters in rural areas, he said.