China concludes pollution survey

China concludes first survey of pollution sources - Part I

China concludes first survey of pollution sources - Part II

Environmental protection is a crucial part of the Chinese government's efforts to achieve sustainable economic development. The State Council Information Office has just briefed the media on the country's first ever nationwide pollution census.

The Ministry of Environmental Protection started the pollution census in February 2008.

The 2-year-long survey involved nearly 6 million staff. They identified sources of industrial, agricultural and residential pollution and also calculated the number of environmental facilities in operation.

Results show in 2007, the total emissions of chemical oxygen demand in waste waters was more than 30 million tons.

The most polluting sources are agricultural activities, at 44 percent, and household waste, at 37 percent.

Zhang Lijun, Vice Minister of Ministry of Environmental Protection, said, "In order to solve the water pollution problem in China fundamentally, reduction of agricultural pollution is an important task."

In 2007, the main areas for water environmental protection, such as the Huaihe River, Haihe River, Liaohe River, Taihu Lake, Dianchi and Chaohu lakes took in most of the major pollutants.

China's growing number of vehicles has made nitrogen oxide another major source of pollution.

It accounts for 30 percent of emissions.

The census also checked the major pollution sources from the service industry for the first time.

The results will serve as reference for the central government to map out plans on environmental protection.

Officials say a pollution-source census will be conducted every 10 years.