China acknowledges pollution-linked ‘cancer villages’

The environment ministry in China has accepted the existence of “cancer villages”, after years of assertions by academics and domestic media that polluted areas experience higher rates of the disease.

The use of the term in an official report, thought to be unprecedented, comes as authorities face growing discontent over industrial waste, hazardous smog, and other environmental and health consequences of years of rapid growth.

“Poisonous and harmful chemical materials have brought about many water and atmosphere emergencies... certain places are even seeing ‘cancer villages’,” said a five-year plan that was highlighted this week.