Schistosoma Japonicum Infection: A Hidden Cost of China’s Three Gorges Dam?

Abstract

Introduction In 1919, Dr. Sun Yat-Sen proposed improving shipping conditions and developing hydroelectric power generation in section of Yangtze River. During 1930s, research on project done by Kuomintang government concluded that such improvements were indeed feasible (Yao 1992: 17). A plan for building a dam in Three Gorges area was approved in 1958. However, tremendous cost of building dam prevented from actually being constructed at that time (Fearnside 1988: 616). In 1986, an extensive re-examination of project began. It was concluded that project was not only technologically feasible and economically reasonable, but that would be better to build than not to do so. Commencing construction as soon as possible was also recommended (Yao 1992: 17). On April 3,1992 plan for Three Gorges dam was approved by National People's Congress, by a vote of 1,767 to 177, with 664 abstentions (Li 1992: 24). In December, 1994 construction of dam officially began (Topping 1995: 132). The Yangtze is third largest river in world. The Three Gorges (Xiling, Wu, and Qutang) are located in Western Hubei province in central China. The area is characterized by rapids, currents and a steep drop, forming a storehouse of water resources (Yao 1992: 17). The Three Gorges dam is to be largest in world. At 185 m high and 1983 m across, dam will create a reservoir of 54,000 km . The major objectives for building dam are flood control, navigation, water supply, and hydroelectric power generation (Edmonds 1991: 112). Once constructed, die dam is expected to generate 13,000 megawatts (mw) of electricity with a power generating efficiency of 10mw/km of reservoir area. These figures are higher than those of other major hydroelectric projects across globe (Fearnside 1988: 617). Not only is Three Gorges dam to be largest in world, is perhaps most controversial. WhUe Chinese leaders strongly support dam, technical experts and intellectuals have expressed serious doubts about projects feasibility, as well as serious concerns for dam's impact on environment (Edmonds 1991:112). The concerns of environmentalists include natural habitats, fauna, erosion, reservoir siltation, estuary salinization, earthquake hazard, and microclimate. Opponents to dam have also expressed social concerns. Upon creation of reservoir, countless cultural landmarks and archaeological sites will be lost. Population transfer is another main concern, as 1.4 million people will have to be resettled due to flooding of their lands (Fearnside 1988: 618). Estimates of cost of project range from 57,100 million up to one billion yuan. Opponents of dam are concerned that bodi time and cost of building dam have been underestimated. There is also a fear that several hidden costs have not been considered at all. The Gezhouba dam (38 km upstream ofThree Gorges) was scheduled to be completed in five years. In reality, dam took 18 years to complete and cost four times original estimate (Edmonds 1991: 120). Judging from Gezhouba project, concerns that cost of Three Gorges dam may be underestimated are not unfounded. One factor that has largely been ignored in literature is dam's impact on public health. According to World Health Organization, the construction of dams and formation of reservoirs and irrigation systems...can cause rapid environmental degradation, and health risks may arise even before there is any awareness of danger and before preparations have been made to overcome it (Hunter et al. 1993: 5). Water resource development projects, such as Three Gorges dam, have a strong tendency for exacerbating parasitic diseases (Hunter et al. 1993: 4). Among such diseases is schistosomiasis, which has long been a public health problem in China. The purpose of this paper is to consider environmental impact assessments (EIA) and cost-benefit analyses of Three Gorges project, and their reliability. …