China

'Daily Telegraph 04/07/2007

Pollution kills 750,000 in China every year

By Richard Spencer in Beijing

Pollution kills three quarters of a million people in China every year, according to previously unreleased World Bank statistics.

The figures, almost twice previous estimates, were calculated using a new statistical model. But they have been suppressed until now because the government feared they would cause social unrest, according to reports.

They come at an embarrassing time for Beijing, which is growing increasingly concerned at the country's environmental crisis, which it has promised to address.

Nevertheless, it has reacted badly to international calls to tackle the root causes, ranging from water supplies poisoned by factories to greenhouse gas emissions, to which it is now the world's greatest contributor, according to recent figures.

It says that economic growth must take priority, despite a growing number of protests, some involving violence, over individual pollution scandals.

The new study, The Cost of Pollution in China, was conducted by international and Chinese government scientists and first revealed at a conference in March.

But the state environmental protection administration and health ministry demanded that the key figures not be included for fear of causing "social instability", according to The Financial Times. One third of the report was omitted.

The missing figures revealed that 350,000-400,000 people died prematurely from outdoor air pollution. Previous World Bank figures said China had 16 of the 20 most polluted cities on earth.

An additional 300,000 died from indoor air pollution, such as the fumes from the coal-burning stoves and boilers that are the main source of heat in the country, while 60,000 died from diseases ranging from cancer to diarrhoea connected with water pollution.

Also missing from the report was a map showing the worst concentrations of premature deaths.

The World Bank in Beijing said the version of the report released at the conference was only a draft in which matters still being discussed with the government were omitted. A full report would be released "soon".

"Certain physical impact estimations as well as economic cost calculations" had been left out due to "some uncertainties about calculation methods and its application", a spokesman said.

She did not deny the validity of the new figures. The government made no comment.'