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84 children suffer lead poisoning

Eighty-four children in southwest China's Yunnan Province have been poisoned by excess lead in their blood, according to a health check ordered by the county authority.

Yunnan's Heqing County has now tested 1,600 of all 2,300 residents. The county authority said it expected the number of sick children to rise further after tests are completed.

All the sick kids were now under treatment in Heqing County People's Hospital. The county government will pay the medical bills, Yunnan Information Daily reported today.

Children showed few symptoms of lead poisoning despite that some having more than double the safe limit at 450 micrograms of lead in their blood. Most suffered stomach pains and diarrhea, the report said.

Elevated blood lead levels can damage nervous and reproductive systems. Serious poisoning can lead to convulsions, coma or even death.



 

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