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Spatial Assessment of Cancer Incidences and the Risks of Industrial Wastewater Emission in China

Author

Listed:
  • Yingru Li

    (Department of Sociology, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32816, USA)

  • Huixuan Li

    (Department of Geography, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA)

  • Zhongwei Liu

    (Department of Geography and Regional Planning, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Indiana, PA 15705, USA)

  • Changhong Miao

    (Key Research Institute of Yellow River Civilization and Sustainable Development & Collaborative Innovation Center on Yellow River Civilization of Henan Province, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China)

Abstract

China’s rapid economic growth and social transitions have deteriorated environmental conditions and caused further public health issues in last three decades. This study examines the complex mechanisms of how socioeconomic transitions and physical environmental conditions impact public health, especially with respect to increasing cancer incidences in mainland China from a spatial-temporal perspective. Specifically, (1) spatial variations of seven types of cancer incidences were analyzed in relation to heavy metal emissions from industrial wastewater at the prefecture-level city scale from 2004 to 2009. Additionally; (2) spatial statistical methods were employed to explore the associations between health outcome, heavy metal emissions from industrial wastewater (arsenic, chromium, cadmium, mercury, lead), as well as socioeconomic transitions (industrialization, urbanization, globalization) and physical environmental factors (hydrology and vegetation coverage). Results showed a significant increase of cancer incidences between 2004 and 2009. Consistent with the spatial pattern of heavy metal emissions, cancer patient clusters were identified in both traditional industrial bases and newly industrialized economic zones, especially in major cities located at downstream watersheds, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenyang, and Wuhan. The results also revealed the double-edged effects of industrialization, economic growth, and urbanization on natural environment and human health. The findings provide informative knowledge of heavy metal pollution and cancer outbreaks in China and therefore offer valuable reference for authorities formulating regulations.

Suggested Citation

  • Yingru Li & Huixuan Li & Zhongwei Liu & Changhong Miao, 2016. "Spatial Assessment of Cancer Incidences and the Risks of Industrial Wastewater Emission in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(5), pages 1-19, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:8:y:2016:i:5:p:480-:d:70100
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Yingru Li & Yehua Dennis Wei, 2014. "Multidimensional Inequalities in Health Care Distribution in Provincial China: A Case Study of Henan Province," Tijdschrift voor Economische en Sociale Geografie, Royal Dutch Geographical Society KNAG, vol. 105(1), pages 91-106, February.
    2. Avraham Ebenstein, 2012. "The Consequences of Industrialization: Evidence from Water Pollution and Digestive Cancers in China," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 94(1), pages 186-201, February.
    3. Huixuan Li & Yingru Li & Ming-Kuo Lee & Zhongwei Liu & Changhong Miao, 2015. "Spatiotemporal Analysis of Heavy Metal Water Pollution in Transitional China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(7), pages 1-21, July.
    4. Petra Christmann & Glen Taylor, 2001. "Globalization and the Environment: Determinants of Firm Self-Regulation in China," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 32(3), pages 439-458, September.
    5. Wen-chuan Wang & Dong-mei Xu & Kwok-wing Chau & Guan-jun Lei, 2014. "Assessment of River Water Quality Based on Theory of Variable Fuzzy Sets and Fuzzy Binary Comparison Method," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 28(12), pages 4183-4200, September.
    6. Hui Hu & Qian Jin & Philip Kavan, 2014. "A Study of Heavy Metal Pollution in China: Current Status, Pollution-Control Policies and Countermeasures," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 6(9), pages 1-19, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Cheng Cui & Baohua Wang & Hongyan Ren & Zhen Wang, 2019. "Spatiotemporal Variations in Gastric Cancer Mortality and Their Relations to Influencing Factors in S County, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-13, March.
    2. Wenwen Gao & Yuan Zeng & Yu Liu & Bingfang Wu, 2019. "Human Activity Intensity Assessment by Remote Sensing in the Water Source Area of the Middle Route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(20), pages 1-13, October.
    3. Zhensheng Wang & Ke Nie, 2017. "Measuring Spatial Distribution Characteristics of Heavy Metal Contaminations in a Network-Constrained Environment: A Case Study in River Network of Daye, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(6), pages 1-11, June.

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