Beijing’s Auto Emissions Threaten Children’s Health

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A new survey of childhood lead poisoning in 15 Chinese cities reveals that in Beijing, 7 percent of children under the age of six have lead levels in their blood that exceed the national standard. The three-year study, cited in Jinghua Times, blames rising auto emissions for the trend and notes that children who live near heavily trafficked main roads or in a lower-level apartments are more likely to have high blood lead levels. Among other effects, lead poisoning can lead to serious developmental problems in areas such as intelligence, speaking, learning, and memorization.

Beijing is notorious for its smog and is rapidly earning the distinction of having the highest vehicular pollution in the world. Particulate emissions from cars now account for nearly a quarter--an estimated 23.3 percent--of the city's total suspended particles. But deteriorating air quality is not curbing public enthusiasm for car ownership. According to Beijing's transportation bureau, the city was home to more than 2.46 million vehicles in mid-2006; by 2008, the number is expected to reach 3.5 million, increasing at an annual rate of nearly 14 percent.

Vehicle exhaust typically contains more than 100 different chemical compounds, many of which are harmful to human health. Carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, lead, and benzene are among the most toxic, and high levels of exposure can trigger respiratory problems (such as asthma and bronchitis), affect the blood and nervous systems, and lead to cancer. The Chinese Academy for Environmental Planning reports that some 300,000 people in China die each year due to outdoor air pollution, while some 111,000 people are killed by indoor air pollution.

A previous study in another major Chinese city, Shanghai, found correlations between auto emissions containing nitrogen monoxide, lead, and endocrine-disrupting chemicals, and declining sperm quality. The study concludes that male sterility, fetal pathological changes, and deteriorating immune functions are among the many health problems that can be traced to environmental pollution

 
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