Despite assurances of environmental safety, experts and locals alike are wary about a petrochemical plant planned for west China's Three Gorges Reservoir area.

"I suggest holding a referendum, as this kind of project cannot be decided by a small group of people," said a netizen named Jialin from Shanghai.

BASF, the German petrochemical giant, said yesterday it expected the Chongqing petrochemical plant to be approved by the Chinese government before the end of 2009.

Earlier reports by the 21st Century Economy Herald said it was to be located in Changshou district, a petrochemical industry park in Chongqing municipality that is within 3 km of a densely populated area and the river head for more than 70,000 local residents.

"The industrial park is already sending out a nauseous smell. Being healthy is much more important than money for citizens," a netizen named Meng Mei from Chongqing said.

DONGGUAN, Guangdong: A growing number of cancer cases allegedly connected with foul landfills have been detected in villages of this southern city.

The incidence of the disease is about three times that of the national average.

On average, 2 million people, or 0.15 percent of the country's population, are diagnosed with cancer each year, according to the Ministry of Health.

In another two villages of Niushan community, six of seven cancer patients have died over the past three years.

The villagers were exposed to mountains of trash in the landfills, which reached capacity a couple of years ago but still accept tons of waste produced by the expanding urban population.

According to a report by Guangzhou Daily, the government outsourced the landfills in Niushan to private operators three years ago, but did not manage them well.

The profit-driven operators accept waste from other towns, charging 150 to 200 yuan ($22 to $29) for every truckload of trash. They also collect fees from garbage collectors, said villagers.

Without proper treatment, the trash in the landfills, amounting to 4 million tons in Yuanfeng, was completely exposed to the air, giving off horrible smells and forcing the villagers to close their windows year round.

Pediatricians Brewing Flu Medicine

With Tamiflu flying off of the shelves, and instructions being too hard to read, pediatricians are now mixing their own medication to prevent Swine Flu in younger children. Humco Holding Group, the company that makes cherry syrup for medications, is receiving record breaking orders from private practices across the nation. Doctors are mixing the cherry syrup with Tamiflu capsules themselves for their younger patients. Click below for more information:

Sugary Mix Is Just What the Flu Doctor Ordered