Daily Telegraph 04/07/2007
  Pollution kills 750,000 in China every year
  By Richard Spencer in Beijing
  Pollution kills three quarters of a million people in China every
  year, according to previously unreleased World Bank statistics.
  The figures, almost twice previous estimates, were calculated using a
  new statistical model. But they have been suppressed until now because
  the government feared they would cause social unrest, according to
  reports.
  They come at an embarrassing time for Beijing, which is growing
  increasingly concerned at the country's environmental crisis, which it
  has promised to address.
  Nevertheless, it has reacted badly to international calls to tackle
  the root causes, ranging from water supplies poisoned by factories to
  greenhouse gas emissions, to which it is now the world's greatest
  contributor, according to recent figures.
  It says that economic growth must take priority, despite a growing
  number of protests, some involving violence, over individual pollution
  scandals.
  The new study, The Cost of Pollution in China, was conducted by
  international and Chinese government scientists and first revealed at
  a conference in March.
  But the state environmental protection administration and health
  ministry demanded that the key figures not be included for fear of
  causing "social instability", according to The Financial Times. One
  third of the report was omitted.
  The missing figures revealed that 350,000-400,000 people died
  prematurely from outdoor air pollution. Previous World Bank figures
  said China had 16 of the 20 most polluted cities on earth.
  An additional 300,000 died from indoor air pollution, such as the
  fumes from the coal-burning stoves and boilers that are the main
  source of heat in the country, while 60,000 died from diseases ranging
  from cancer to diarrhoea connected with water pollution.
  Also missing from the report was a map showing the worst
  concentrations of premature deaths.
  The World Bank in Beijing said the version of the report released at
  the conference was only a draft in which matters still being discussed
  with the government were omitted. A full report would be released
  "soon".
  "Certain physical impact estimations as well as economic cost
  calculations" had been left out due to "some uncertainties about
  calculation methods and its application", a spokesman said.
  She did not deny the validity of the new figures. The government made
  no comment.