Chinese Government - Lung Cancer Leading Cause Of Death In Beijing, Up 60% In Ten Years

[hatrack]

Lung cancer has become the number one killer in Beijing according to Chinese government sources. The rate of lung cancer diagnosis has gone up nearly 60 percent in the last 10 years. Of every five cancer patients, one is diagnosed with lung cancer. However, the Chinese government did not list air pollution as a likely cause of the rapid increase of this cancer, Sound of Hope radio reported.

According to Jinghua Times, an official with the Beijing Health Bureau said that the rate of lung cancer has grown by 56.35 percent between 2000 and 2009. Men are 1.72 times more likely to develop lung cancer than women. Lung cancer patients in Beijing also have the highest death rate of all cancer patients.

The official stressed the importance of quitting smoking to prevent cancer. He also advised less frying to reduce smoke from cooking. However, he did not mention the connection between Beijing’s heavy air pollution and lung cancer.

To ensure the health of its staff, the United States Embassy in Beijing has been conducting independent air quality tests. The results are published on Twitter. The tests show that air pollution commonly reaches a level that is hazardous to human health, particularly because of the extremely high density of PM 2.5 particles, which can enter the lungs and even the bloodstream.

EDIT

http://english.ntdtv.com/ntdtv_en/news_china/2011-11-24/Lung-Cancer-Leading-Cause-of-Death-in-Beijing.html

[RZM]

1. That data varies

But most studies count roughly 60 percent of Chinese men as smokers. That's pretty high - one of the higher rates in the world. Something like 20-25 percent of American men are smokers.

But I'd be very surprised if pollution isn't also partly to blame for this spike in cancer cases.

[amuse bouche]

2. It's common sense

Inhale garbage into your lungs and they will become diseased

It's not Rocket Surgery

[provis99]

3. well, they finally found a way to make a dent in the Chinese population numbers...