Main description:

The phenomenon of "cancer villages" has emerged in many parts of rural China, drawing media attention and becoming a fact of social life. However, the relationship between pollution and disease is often hard to discern. Through sociological analysis of several villages with different social and economic structures, the authors offer a comprehensive, historically grounded analysis of the coexistence between the incidence of cancer, environmental pollution and villagers' lifestyles, as well as the perceptions, claims and responses of different actors. They situate the appearance of "cancer villages" in the context of social, economic and cultural change in China, tracing the evolution of the issue over two decades, and providing deep insights into the complex interactions and trade-offs between economic growth, environmental change and public health.

Contents:

Acknowledgements
Preface. Jennifer Holdaway and Wang Wuyi
1 Retrospective Thoughts on the 'Cancer Village' Phenomenon. Chen Ajiang
2 The Ins and Outs of a 'Cancer Village'. Chen Ajiang
3 A Subei 'Cancer Village'. Luo Yajuan
4 Environmental Change and Health Risks. Chen Ajiang
5 A Prosperous 'Cancer Village'. Cheng Pengli
6 Coexistence of Poverty and Cancer. Cheng Pengli and Li Caihong
7 Problematization and De-stigmatization. Li Caihong and Cheng Pengli
8 Behind 'High Incidence of Lung Cancer'. Li Qi and Chen Ajiang
9 Villagers' Perceptions of and Responses to the Relationship between Cancer and Pollution. Chen Ajiang and Cheng Pengli
10 Villagers Strategies for Mitigating Environmental Health Risks? Chen Ajiang and Cheng Pengli
Index