China links coal use and birth defects

The Chinese government appears to have taken another step towards recognising the dangers inherent in its reliance on coal power after an official admitted for the first time that there is a link between the rise in birth defects in certain regions and high levels of pollution.

“The problem of birth defects is related to environmental pollution, especially in eight main coal zones,” said An Huanxiao, the director of Shanxi provincial family planning agency.
The comments came as the Chinese government announced that it has launched a screening programme in the eight worst affected areas of the country to establish the extent of the problem.

Pressure has been growing for some time on the government to admit a link between coal-related pollution and an increase in the number of children with birth defects.

A study by the government released in 2007 found that birth defects had increased nearly 40 per cent from 2001 to 2006, but no speculation was made as to the cause.

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