Cancer rates soar in China:
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
Cancer was the leading cause of death in China during 2006, according to a health ministry report. A recent survey of 30 cities and 78 counties reports a 19% rise in fatalities in urban areas and 23% in rural areas, but exact incidence rates are not provided, according to the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Environmental pollution, particularly of air and water, but also of livestock, is considered to be responsible. For example, air pollution from formaldehyde used in household work and furniture "is a major cause of lung cancers", says the CDC. The disease has been devastating villages, leading to frequent use of the term "cancer villages" in official reports. After cancer, the biggest killers are cerebrovascular diseases, followed by heart and respiratory ailments.