Polluted water from the ShayingRiver is blamed for an increase in cancer around 20 villages of Shenqiu County, in Central China's Henan Province. In Huangmengying village of 2,400 people, 114 have died from cancer in 14 years. On 1 September 2004 three villagers died on the same day. Locals say the disease was unheard of before the 1980s.

Factories and paper mills discard untreated effluent into the Shaying, the source of Huangmengying and other villages' water supply. The river also receives sewage from cities in its upper reaches. Village head Wang Linsheng said that villagers who live near ditches or ponds are vulnerable to rectal and oesophageal cancer and colitis. The county’s environmental protection bureau admits that water less than 50-metres underground is not drinkable in 21 townships. An investigation found high levels of manganese and nitrite. In 1994, the State Council launched a clean-up campaign, but local government is accused of putting economic growth before health.

Until the 1970s, teahouses used water straight from the river because it was so sweet.

Source: China View / China Daily, 19 Oct 2004

Tags: water quality, water-related diseases