According the Ministry of Health, China is greatly threatened by occupational diseases. Currently 16 million enterprises throughout the country deal with toxic production materials and about 200 million people are involved, of which 90 percent are migrant workers.

    Those who work for small private enterprises and mines are especially dangerous, health experts noted. Some bosses don't tellthem the knowledge of poisonous materials, and may even drive themaway if they get sick.

    In some small plants, poisonous chemicals, such as silicon dioxide and trichloroethylene, are randomly placed in the workshop,and the migrant worker do not know their toxicity at all, according to the experts.

    Furthermore, not every worker knows his own health conditions well. In Central China's Henan Province, only 16 percent of workers whose work exposes to toxic materials in county factories received physical examinations in 2003, while only 2.94 percent ofthose in towns could enjoy the service.

    In 2005, the figures were a bit higher, but still only one fourth of workers in big-and-medium-sized enterprises had medical checkups.

    Ding Zhenan, a migrant worker in a mine, said, "I had a physical exam last March when I first came here. The doctor in themine clinic got my blood pressure. No other medical instruments did I see."

    Fortunately, the government has begun to attach importance to the problem. Wang Guangsong, Vice-director of the Guizhou Occupational Disease Prevention Institute, argues that economic development should not be paid by migrant workers' health.

    Cao Hegan, Head of Jiangxi Occupational Disease Prevention and Monitoring Station, holds that occupational diseases are threatening migrant workers because, on one hand, factory and mineowners ignore laws and regulations for more profits, and on the other hand, workers are afraid of losing jobs and try to tolerate bad working environment that brings harm to their health and even lives.

    Cao urged governments at all levels to carry out reform on healthcare protection for migrant workers and improve the disease prevention mechanism.

    "We should put focus on healthcare for migrant workers since they are often the main economic source of their families, the death of one worker means the poverty of one family," the officialsaid.

    Huang Zhijun, a doctor of Henan Occupational Disease PreventionInstitute, said the loss of labors will finally affect the sustainable development of China, so we must prevent beforehand the outburst of occupational diseases, especially among migrant workers. Enditem