A year of bad news about Chinese urban air quality has seen rising public concern about air pollution, according to new figures released by the US-based Pew Research Centre.
Nearly half of those surveyed list air pollution as a major problem, up 16% since 2008. And after headlines about thousands of dead pigs floating down the Huangpu River in Shanghai, a further 40% list water pollution as a major problem, up 12% since 2008.
Both air and water pollution were amongst the top five worries listed by Chinese – with corruption, the gap between the rich and poor and inflation making up the other concerns. Fears about food safety also remain high, with 38% citing it as a major problem.
