Water pollution emergencies in China,2004-2015: monitoring data analysis

Objective To examine the incidence and trend of water pollution emergency in China from 2004 to 2015.Methods Data on reported water pollution emergencies in China from 2004 to 2015 were extracted from the Public Health Emergency Information Management System of Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention and analyzed using descriptive epidemiology methods.Results A total of 126 water pollution incidents were reported in 23 provinces of China during the 12-year period,with 16 571 sufferers and 3 deaths from the incidents.More incidents (37.3%) were reported in March,July,and September of a year.Of the 102 water pollution emergencies confirmed,36 were caused by chemical pollutants;42 and 20 impacted on urban and rural central water supply systems and 27 affected on rural self-provided water sources;and 46 involved school water supply of 40 schools,with 176 936 exposed peoples and 4 572 sufferers.Conclusion The reported water pollution emergencies in China generally declined,with monthly variation but without obvious urban-rural difference in the incidences of the emergencies,from 2004 to 2015;industrial wastewater and domestic wastes are major pollutants of the reported emergencies and most frequently identified biological and chemical pollutants are Escherichia coli and arsenic.