By Xinhua
Beijing : China will launch its first national census of pollution sources next month, mainly focussing on industries.
The survey will cover 39 industries including metallurgy, chemistry, construction, power plants, papermaking, pharmaceuticals and mining, Zhu Jianping, chief of the survey office, said here Thursday.
Unofficial estimates suggest that there could be more than 720,000 polluting industrial units across the country.
It will also identify sources of agricultural and urban pollution and the number of remedial facilities in operation.
According to the State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA), the survey is expected to be over by the end of 2008. The findings will be presented before the government for examination and approval by the first half of 2009.