12 plants suspended in Jiangxi after children tested for lead
By Yang Jian |
July 9, 2012, Monday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
Twelve industrial plants have been suspended following tests that found more than 10 children with excessive lead in their blood in east China's Jiangxi Province.
A seven-year-old boy from Futan Village in the city of Ji'an was found with 117 micrograms of lead per liter of blood last month, higher than the 100 micrograms standard, Xinhua news agency reported yesterday.
More parents in the village then took their children for tests at a local hospital and more than 10 were found to have excessive levels of lead, with 299 micrograms recorded in the worst case.
"We believe the pollution from a nearby industrial park in Qingyuan District, home to over 30 plants, is the source of the poisoning," said Zeng Suying, the seven-year-old's mother.
Another villager, Liang Qunhua, said previous annual blood tests had shown the lead levels in his son's blood to be normal, but after they had moved to the area less than two years ago, they were now excessive.
Excessive amounts of lead in the blood harm the nervous and reproductive systems and can cause high blood pressure and anemia. In severe cases, it can lead to convulsions, coma and death.
Fearing the effects of lead poisoning, about 100 villagers demanded the local government close polluting enterprises.
The plants began operating in 2000 in the Futan Industrial Park about 15 kilometers from downtown Ji'an City. They are mainly involved in copper, recycled paper and petrochemicals.
On Saturday, in response to growing panic, local authorities ordered the temporary closure of 12 enterprises in the park.
"However, none of the plants at the park has actual business involving the heavy metal," the city government said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the government said tests on samples of ground and underground water, as well as air, taken from the park and the village had normal results.
The results of soil tests will be available in a few days, the statement said.
The city government provided free blood tests in a specific hospital to all children in the village from last Tuesday, but the results turned out to be different to the other tests, the Xinhua report said.
Just two of 205 children living near the industrial park were found to have "slightly" excessive concentrations of lead, the government said. More children are to be tested.
Explaining the discrepancy between the voluntary and official test results, Liu Zhongkai, deputy director of the city's health bureau, said the official tests were more scientific and used more advanced equipment.
"The previous tests collected blood from the children's fingers, but the official tests this time took venous blood from the arm that was more scientific," said Liu.
However, the official test results failed to calm villagers' concerns. "We adults can also feel dizzy and cannot sleep sometimes as the plants often release strong smells," said Guo Huiyuan, a village resident.
Guo said the air was fresh in the village, which is surrounded by mountains, before the factories were built.
Villagers can take further tests at other hospitals if they do not trust the official results, said Long Xin, deputy director of Qingyuan District where the village is located. "If the results turn out to be abnormal, the government is willing to cover all the test and treatment fees for the children," Long said.
A seven-year-old boy from Futan Village in the city of Ji'an was found with 117 micrograms of lead per liter of blood last month, higher than the 100 micrograms standard, Xinhua news agency reported yesterday.
More parents in the village then took their children for tests at a local hospital and more than 10 were found to have excessive levels of lead, with 299 micrograms recorded in the worst case.
"We believe the pollution from a nearby industrial park in Qingyuan District, home to over 30 plants, is the source of the poisoning," said Zeng Suying, the seven-year-old's mother.
Another villager, Liang Qunhua, said previous annual blood tests had shown the lead levels in his son's blood to be normal, but after they had moved to the area less than two years ago, they were now excessive.
Excessive amounts of lead in the blood harm the nervous and reproductive systems and can cause high blood pressure and anemia. In severe cases, it can lead to convulsions, coma and death.
Fearing the effects of lead poisoning, about 100 villagers demanded the local government close polluting enterprises.
The plants began operating in 2000 in the Futan Industrial Park about 15 kilometers from downtown Ji'an City. They are mainly involved in copper, recycled paper and petrochemicals.
On Saturday, in response to growing panic, local authorities ordered the temporary closure of 12 enterprises in the park.
"However, none of the plants at the park has actual business involving the heavy metal," the city government said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the government said tests on samples of ground and underground water, as well as air, taken from the park and the village had normal results.
The results of soil tests will be available in a few days, the statement said.
The city government provided free blood tests in a specific hospital to all children in the village from last Tuesday, but the results turned out to be different to the other tests, the Xinhua report said.
Just two of 205 children living near the industrial park were found to have "slightly" excessive concentrations of lead, the government said. More children are to be tested.
Explaining the discrepancy between the voluntary and official test results, Liu Zhongkai, deputy director of the city's health bureau, said the official tests were more scientific and used more advanced equipment.
"The previous tests collected blood from the children's fingers, but the official tests this time took venous blood from the arm that was more scientific," said Liu.
However, the official test results failed to calm villagers' concerns. "We adults can also feel dizzy and cannot sleep sometimes as the plants often release strong smells," said Guo Huiyuan, a village resident.
Guo said the air was fresh in the village, which is surrounded by mountains, before the factories were built.
Villagers can take further tests at other hospitals if they do not trust the official results, said Long Xin, deputy director of Qingyuan District where the village is located. "If the results turn out to be abnormal, the government is willing to cover all the test and treatment fees for the children," Long said.
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