U.N. Sees Pollution Crisis in Asia’s Cities

Single-minded pursuit of rapid economic growth has caused an air and water pollution crisis in many of Asia’s cities, the United Nations said Friday.

A U.N. statement summarizing a report to be released by the U.N. Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific said water-related diseases are the main cause of death in developing Asian nations.

It said about 35,000 children die daily, mostly from bacteria, viruses and other water-borne illnesses.

Rivers that flow into Asian cities become even more polluted with sewage and industrial and household wastes dumped directly into the water, it said.

Air pollution has caused high rates of lung cancer, tuberculosis and bronchitis, and sulfur dioxide and suspended dust levels can be tens to hundreds of times worse than in U.S. or Canadian cities.