A rising incidence of birth defects in some parts of China is being attributed to environmental pollution, unhealthy lifestyles and poor nutrition.

The trend has led some experts to debate the reintroduction of compulsory pre-marital health checks which were scrapped in 2003, the Xinhua news agency reported.

Figures released by two populous provinces show alarming rises in the number of birth defects, according to Xinhua.

In east China's Zhejiang province, the incidence of babies with birth defects was 1.15 percent in 2003, rising to 1.33 percent in 2004 and 1.47 percent last year, the report said.

About 480,000 babies are born in Zhejiang each year, with about 7,200 babies born with defects in 2005, it added.

In the southern province of Guangdong, the incidence has risen from 0.96 percent 10 years ago to 2.12 percent in the latest figures.

Cleft palate , neural tube defects, excessive numbers of fingers or toes, congenital heart disease and water on the brain are the top five birth defects among Chinese babies, the report said.

据新华社报道，由于新生缺陷儿不断增多，一些专家们正在考虑恢复已于2003年取消的婚前体检。

据新华社消息，两个人口大省的有关统计数据显示，新生缺陷儿的数量增长迅速。

统计报告中说，中国东部省份浙江省2003年的新生缺陷儿比例为1.15％，2004年升至1.13％，去年增加到1.47％。

浙江省每年共有约48万名婴儿出生，2005年，患有出生缺陷的新生儿数量达到7200个。

中国南部省份广东省的新生儿出生缺陷率从10年前的0.96％上升到最近的2.12％。

报告中提到，唇腭裂、神经管缺损、多趾症、先天性心脏病和脑积水是困扰我国新生儿的五大出生缺陷。

专家介绍，遗传病、细菌感染、环境污染、不健康的生活方式和营养不良是导致出生缺陷的几大主要诱因。