 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Birth Defects Rise In China Due To Pollution
Beijing (AFP) Sept 20, 2006 A rising incidence of birth defects in some parts of China is being attributed to environmental pollution, unhealthy lifestyles and poor nutrition, state press said Wednesday. The trend has led some experts to debate the reintroduction of compulsory pre-marital health checks which were scrapped in 2003, the Xinhua news agency reported. Figures released by two populous provinces in advance of the publication of national figures by the Ministry of Health next week show alarming rises in the number of birth defects, according to Xinhua. In east China's Zhejiang province, the incidence of babies with birth defects was 1.15 percent in 2003, rising to 1.33 percent in 2004 and 1.47 percent last year, the report said. About 480,000 babies are born in Zhejiang each year, with about 7,200 babies born with defects in 2005, it added. In the southern province of Guangdong, the incidence has risen from 0.96 percent 10 years ago to 2.12 percent in the latest figures. Cleft palette, neural tube defects, excessive numbers of fingers or toes, congenital heart disease and water on the brain are the top five birth defects among Chinese babies, the report said. Experts said hereditary diseases, viral infections, environmental pollution, unhealthy lifestyles and poor nutrition were among the main known causes.
Source: Agence France-Presse Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links Our Polluted World and Cleaning It Up Our Polluted World and Cleaning It Up
Philippines Oil-Spill Tanker 'May Have Sunk During Cargo Heist'
Manila (AFP) Sep 18, 2006A tanker which sank last month causing the Philippines' worst-ever oil spill may have been holed by another vessel while illegally off-loading at sea, investigators said Monday. Evidence gathered by a remotely operated underwater vehicle that surveyed the wreck found a triangular hole on the left side of the Solar I, along with scratches and open valves on its cargo hold, a justice department official said. |
|
|
| The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2006 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA PortalReports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additionalcopyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement |
