Tests find 196 children suffering lead poisoning
By Leeann Li |
August 23, 2012, Thursday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
Nearly 200 children in a remote town in southern Guangdong Province have been found to have excess levels of lead in their blood.
Their homes in Xingzi Town are just a kilometer away from a coal-fired power plant.
The 196 children living in one community tested positive for lead poisoning with 95 having levels 4.5 times above the safe level, yesterday's China Business News reported.
Since the town has 20 villages and 211 communities, the actual number of lead-poisoned children could be much higher, the paper said.
Parents were unaware of the hazards posed by the plant until their children began to exhibit poor memory, eyesight problems, lack of appetite, vomiting and hair loss.
Villagers said the nearby Xingzi River was "black and smelly" and smoke from the plant's two chimneys "cover the whole township."
They said that plant workers lived in dormitories in Lianzhou City rather than at the plant and commuted by bus while some families had moved to other towns because of the pollution.
In response to public anger, Guangdong Yuedian Group suspended the plant's operation and the local government offered medical subsidies from 250 yuan (US$39.35) to 1,050 yuan.
But the families say the money isn't enough to cover medical bills, the paper reported.
Guangdong governor Zhu Xiaoda has asked authorities to investigate and make every effort to ensure the children receive proper treatment.
Their homes in Xingzi Town are just a kilometer away from a coal-fired power plant.
The 196 children living in one community tested positive for lead poisoning with 95 having levels 4.5 times above the safe level, yesterday's China Business News reported.
Since the town has 20 villages and 211 communities, the actual number of lead-poisoned children could be much higher, the paper said.
Parents were unaware of the hazards posed by the plant until their children began to exhibit poor memory, eyesight problems, lack of appetite, vomiting and hair loss.
Villagers said the nearby Xingzi River was "black and smelly" and smoke from the plant's two chimneys "cover the whole township."
They said that plant workers lived in dormitories in Lianzhou City rather than at the plant and commuted by bus while some families had moved to other towns because of the pollution.
In response to public anger, Guangdong Yuedian Group suspended the plant's operation and the local government offered medical subsidies from 250 yuan (US$39.35) to 1,050 yuan.
But the families say the money isn't enough to cover medical bills, the paper reported.
Guangdong governor Zhu Xiaoda has asked authorities to investigate and make every effort to ensure the children receive proper treatment.
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