Excessive workload, exhaustion from overwork and heavy burden to support their families endured by middle-aged professionals in Beijing have, among other reasons,shortened their life expectancy by an average of 20 years, according to a survey conducted by the Academy of Social Sciences of Shanghai.

The outcome of a recent survey concerning the State of Health of Intellectuals released recently by the Shanghai Municipal Academy of Social Sciences indicated that the average life expectancy of intellectuals in the Chinese capital Beijing dropped to about the age of 54 from 59 a decade ago, while the average life span for common Beijing residents was 76 years.

Prof. Zhang Yanjin with prestigious Beijing Normal University, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), said Tuesday that the increased workload is endangering the health of intellectuals.

In contrast, a similar survey conducted in 1994 showed that theaverage age for the deceased scientific and technical personnel inShanghai, the largest metropolis in the country, stood at 67 years,3.2 years younger than the average age of local deceased professionals.

A large number of eminent scientists and other professionals, including superb Chinese mathematician Zhang Guanghou and composerShi Guangnan, passed away when they were just around the age of 50.

Wang Banqing, another CPPCC member and vice-principal of a medical college in east China's Jiangxi province, acknowledged that the tragedy of these outstanding personnel were resultant from their excessive workload, aggravated intensity and abrupt worsening of health conditions.

(People's Daily  March 11, 2004)