Eighty six percent of the surveyed have expressed concerns over
the possible heath damage caused by environment pollution, with 39%
describing the situation as serious, according to the Public
Environment Protection Index for 2006, China's first ever index of
the kind released on Sunday.
The index shows the food security tops the concerns of people.
Many are becoming more cautious in eating foods for fear of harmful
water and toxic chemicals used in the farming.
Civilians also voiced concerns over the safety of drinking
water. According to the index, 81 percent said they had paid
attention to the issue since reports of pollution in the country's
main rivers started frequently appearing in the media. About 21.7
percent of the urban residents surveyed are unsatisfied with
drinking water.
Air pollution is another topic attracting major attention, as
39.6 percent expressed discontent with air quality.
Chinese people's consciousness of environmental protection
registered 57.05 points, from a potential of 100, while the figure
reflecting people's satisfaction with the environmental efforts
reached 60.2, the index unveiled.
The national index also revealed that 600,000 complaints
regarding environmental pollution were received last year, 30% up
on 2005. Some 23% of those surveyed promised they would report the
pollution cases to the relevant government departments. However,
76% of those surveyed still didn't know the phone number "12369",
of the National Environmental Hotline.
Under the guidance of the State Environmental Protection
Administration, the China Environmental Culture Promotion
Association took charge in compiling the index through interviews
and telephone polls. Issues referring to fourteen aspects of the
environment were included in the survey, ranging from food safety
and water pollution to the greenhouse effect and soil
desertification.
(CRI January 16, 2007)