Society

136 people suffering high lead level in Guangzhou

By Zheng Caixiong (China Daily)
Updated: 2011-05-21 09:04

GUANGZHOU - Tests have confirmed that 136 people living near a battery plant in South China's Guangdong province have dangerously high levels of lead in their blood, local authorities said on Friday.

Most of the victims are children.

Those suffering excessive lead in their blood live near Heyuan Sunnway Battery Co Ltd in Linjiang township, Zijin county, in Guangdong's Heyuan city.

Workers with the county's health bureau conducted blood tests on 1,468 residents near the battery plant after media reports of a similar case in Zhejiang province earlier this month, said a spokesman for the county government.

Among the 136 people with dangerously high lead levels, 59 were diagnosed with lead poisoning, said the spokesman, without clarifying the criteria for lead poisoning.

Excessive amounts of lead can damage the digestive, nervous and reproductive systems and cause stomach aches, anemia and convulsions.

He said the government would pay for all patients' medical expenses.

Xinhua News Agency said the battery plant had suspended operations on Thursday.

Sunnway Battery Co Ltd mainly produces lead acid batteries for vehicles. The company that started trial operations in 2007 passed a local environmental protection acceptance test in 2008.

The county government has sent an investigation team to the company and detained its boss, said the spokesman.

The poisoning case came as China is cracking down on emissions of lead and other heavy metals following a spate of poisoning cases and reports that much of the country's soil is contaminated with toxic materials.

Rules seen on Thursday on the website of the Ministry of Environmental Protection order criminal penalties for businesses and officials who violate restrictions on the use of toxins.

In regions already affected by lead pollution, authorities were ordered to stop approvals of any new industrial projects, ministry spokesman Tao Detian told Xinhua.

A medical team of six senior experts and doctors arrived in Heyuan early this week to help treat the people suffering from lead poisoning.

At least 10 children who are suffering from serious lead poisoning have been taken to Guangzhou Children's Hospital for further treatment.

The case has raised great concern in both the central and Guangdong provincial governments.

Environmental protection experts from the central and provincial governments have been sent to Heyuan to further investigate the case.

"A province-wide campaign has been launched to investigate lead acid battery companies for possible breaches of the rules, including discharge of poisonous gas, liquid and solid industrial waste," Chen Wentao, an official from Guangdong provincial bureau of environmental protection, said on Friday.

"All lead acid battery companies located less than 300 meters from residential houses have been required to stop production for inspection."

Guangdong now registers more than 160 lead acid battery factories. It is the second-largest production base of lead acid batteries in the country.

Xinhua contributed to this story.