『Abstract
China's extraordinary economic growth, industrialization, and
urbanization, coupled with inadequate investment in basic water
supply and treatment infrastructure, have resulted in widespread
water pollution. In China today approximately 700 million people
- over half the population - consume drinking water contaminated
with levels of animal and human excreta that exceed maximum permissive
levels by as much as 86% in rural areas and 28% in urban areas.
By the year 2000, the volume of wastewater produced could double
from 1990 levels to almost 78 billion tons. These are alarming
trends with potentially serious consequences for human health.
This paper reviews and analyzes recent Chinese reports on public
health and water resources to shed light on what recent trends
imply for China's environmental risk transition. This paper has
two major conclusions. First, the critical deficits in basic water
supply and sewage treatment infrastructure have increased the
risk of exposure to infectious and parasitic disease and to a
growing volume of industrial chemicals, heavy metals, and algal
toxins. Second, the lack of coordination between environmental
and public health objectives, a complex and fragmented system
to manage water resources, and the general treatment of water
as a common property resource mean that the water quality and
quantity problems observed as well as the health threats identified
are likely to become more acute.
Key words: China; health; pollution; water』
(Introduction)
Rapid industrialization
Urbanization
Intensification and modernization of agriculture
Conclusions and recommendations
References and notes