Leading occupational hazard in China jeopardizes 440,000 people
1/12/2006
Pneumoconiosis ranks first among various occupational hazards in China, involving 440,000 sufferers, said an official from the
Ministry of Health at a medical-care symposium held recently in Haikou, capital of southernmost China's Hainan Province.
Of the total patients, 140,000 have died, added Qi Xiaoqiu, head of the disease control and prevention department of the ministry.
Occupational hazards involve 30-odd sectors in China, including coal, metallurgical, non-ferrous metal, oil, petrochemical, chemical, pharmaceutical, building materials and nuclear power sectors. Among the diseases, pneumoconiosis and occupational toxicosis are the leading threats, said Qi.
As China has become one of manufacturing bases of the world, new occupational diseases will come out. It is imperative for China to properly address the occupational health problems, so as to achieve sustainable development of economy and society, said Qi.
Attaching great importance to occupational health, China has improved related regulation system in recent years, which has helped better people's working and living conditions, said Qi.
Source: Xinhu