Poor air quality 'causes birth defects'

A five-year study undertaken in China has concluded that air pollution causes defects to occur in unborn babies.

Teams of doctors in Jiangsu conducted the report, which suggests that one-tenth of birth defects are caused by atmospheric pollution.

It also discovered that between 2001 and 2006, birth defects rose by 50 per cent in China.

Of the 26,000 women monitored as part of the study, heart disease, cleft palates, and hydrocephalus (excess water on the brain) were found to be the most prevailing pollution-related birth defects.

Dr Hu Yali, leader of the study, declared: "Birth defects have become the single biggest killer of mainland infants."

Beijing authorities announced recently that it hit its 2008 pollution targets, achieving its aim of 256 blue sky days 31 days earlier than planned.