Research on the Correlation between Cancer and the Huai River Water Environment

Abstract

The atlas is an important product of the project which describes changes in the water environment and the causes of death of the local population in the Huai River Basin over the past 30 years. A review of variation in trends in the causes of death in the Huai River Basin over the past 30 years shows that the areas which were the most seriously polluted for the longest time were precisely the areas with the highest increase in digestive cancer deaths. The increase was several times than that of the national average increase for the respective cancers. Spatial analysis shows a high level of correspondence between the seriously polluted areas and areas with high mortality from cancer. This is the most important finding of the atlas.

Appendix

Variation in water quality in monitoring sections of the main stream

Water quality at Gan’an Bridge in Xinyang City changed between Grade II and Grade III from 1982–2009. Except in 1992 and 2004 when water quality was Grade IV, it was Grade II and Grade III in 92 % of years monitored, which indicates that water quality in the waterhead area is generally good

The monitoring section at Wangjiaba in Fuyang City was not established until 2003 so there are only 7 years of monitoring results. Water quality in this section was Grade V in 2003–2004 and Grade IV in 2005–2009

Water quality in this section was Grade V or worse from 1995–1997, although it was Grade III in 1998 and Grade IV 2003. It began to improve from 2006 on and it was Grade III in 2009. Overall, the amount of years with water quality of Grade V or worse accounted for 50 % of all years for which there is monitoring data

Although water quality of Dabukou section in Xi County improved in 1986, it started deteriorating from 1991 and it was Grade V or worse from 1995 to 1997. There was a second improvement in water quality in this section during 1998–2009 when it remained at Grade II

Water quality in the Xiashankou section in Huainan City varied from Grade II to Grade VI or worse from 1982 to 2009. The years with Grade V or worse were 1987, 1991, and 2004–2005, which accounted for about 17 % of all for which there is monitoring data

The worst water quality (Grade V) was recorded in 2002 and 2005, accounting for one-fifth of all years. About 70 % of all years for which there is monitoring data reported water quality of Grade IV

Grade V or worse water quality occurred only once in the Huaibin Section in Xinyang City in 1986. After this, the water quality of this section remained at Grade II-III-IV

For the Shitoubu Section in Huainan City, Grade IV water quality was reported for most years, accounting for about 69 % of all years. Grade V appeared only in 2004 and Grade III was recorded for the other years (1999, 2001, and 2009)

Of the 14 years with monitoring results for the section at the entrance of the Guo River into Huai River, years with Grade IV water quality accounted for about 64 %. Grade V was observed only in 1996 and 2003

The Bengbuzha Section had water quality of Grade II and Grade III (48 %), Grade IV (35 %) and Grade V or worse (17 %) in various years, which shows that this segment of the mainstream of Huai River was once seriously polluted but has now shown some improvement

Water quality in the Xiaoliuxiang Section in Chuzhou City was Grade IV from 1995–1997 and 2003–2007, or about 67 % of the time. Grade V or worse water quality was recorded in 1998 and 2002, and the best quality was Grade III during 2008–2009

The Xintie Bridge Section had water quality of Grade IV 47 % of the time and of Grade V or worse 41 % of the time (1989, 1991, 1993, 1996, 2001, 2002, and 2004), which shows that this segment of the Huai River was seriously polluted

Water quality for the Huaihe Bridge Section in Xuyi County, varied between Grade III and Grade IV

Water quality of Grade IV or better was mostly reported for the Mohekou Section and Grade V or worse water quality mainly appeared in 1989, 1991, 1993, 1996, 2001, 2002 and 2004

Tables

Table 1.4 Variation in water quality grades for monitoring sections of the main stream of the Huai River, 1982–2009

Table 1.5 Variation in water quality grades for monitoring sections of the main tributaries of the Huai River, 1997–2009

Table 1.6 Variation in water quality grades for monitoring sections of the secondary tributaries of the Huai River

Table 1.7 Variation in water quality grades for monitoring sections of Beijing-Hangzhou Canal

Table 1.8 Variation in water quality grades for monitoring sections of Yishusi Water System