According to scientists, most of these premature deaths are preventable. The study focused not only on widespread smoking, but the common use of wood ad coal as fuel for heating and cooking in homes.

Lung diseases are likely to include lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.The Harvard School of Public Health research looked at a 30-year period, spanning the last five and the next 25.

Respiratory disease is already a leading cause of death in China, but this latest study suggests a startling rise.

In the 30-year period, it calculates, about 83 million Chinese people will die prematurely of lung disease.

Researchers suggest that the government needs to target smoking by raising taxes on cigarettes and to provide sources of cleaner fuel in homes.

At the moment, one in three people who light up a cigarette lives in China.

[5 Oct 2008 11:52]

SEND TO A FRIEND  |   PRINT