Fast-growing cities at risk, WHO finds

Health conditions in Asia's booming cities will suffer dramatically unless governments take urgent measures to slash air and water pollution, the World Health Organization warned yesterday.

Many urban areas are growing so fast that economies, services and infrastructure cannot cope, the WHO office for the Western Pacific region said in a statement, predicting a rise in outbreaks of disease as well as in crime, violence, environmental degradation, pollution, poverty and unhealthy lifestyles.

In Asia - with half of the world's city dwellers - more than 1.5 million people die every year from pollution-related diseases, including about half a million deaths attributed to particulate matter and sulphur dioxide.

Bringing particulate matter down to safe levels could save up to 700,000 lives annually, WHO said.

http://www.etaiwannews.com/Asia/2003/10/15/1066184085.htm

Wait until AIDS really kicks in.