China's top environmental official said Tuesday China faces serious soil pollution that jeopardizes the ecology, food safety, people's health and the sustainable development of agriculture.

 

"It is estimated that nationwide 12 million tons of grain are polluted by heavy metals that have found their way into in soil each year. Direct economic losses exceed 20 billion yuan (about US$2.5 billion)," said Zhou Shengxian, director of the State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA).

 

Addressing a national video conference on soil pollution, Zhou said harmful substances accumulate in the soil which are then absorbed by crops that are consumed by people. This, he said, will harm people's health.

 

(Xinhua News Agency July 18, 2006)