Birth Defect Explosion in China

40% more children in China are born with birth defects than 6 years ago according to a World Health Organization study.

The WHO study found that birth defects rose from 104.9 per 10,000 births in 2001 to 145.5 per 10,000 last year. The higher number has mostly been attributed to high levels of environmental pollution.

China is well known in environmental circles for its appalling pollution record, and it appears the population is suffering the effects. Shanxi province, home to a variety of heavy industry including coke and coal plants, had the highest level of birth defects.

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