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In yet another case of lead poisoning, more than 80 children in Shanghang county, Fujian province have been found to have excessive amounts of the potentially lethal metal in their blood.

A battery factory being blamed for the poisoning was shut down one week ago.

Normal lead content in blood ranges from 0 to 100 micrograms per liter. Human health is affected when the content reaches 200 micrograms per liter.

"Most children have 100 to 200 micrograms of lead per liter of blood, but one child is poisoned with lead levels higher than 200 micrograms," said Fu Zhilian, a parent in Jiaoyang village.

Xinhua News agency reported only four children had excessive levels.

This is the fourth recent lead poisoning scandal in the country. More than 2,000 children have been affected in areas like Fengxiang, Shaanxi province, Wugang in Hunan province and Kunming of Yunnan province.

Excessive levels of lead in the body can harm the nervous and reproductive systems, cause high blood pressure and anemia and, in extreme cases, can lead to convulsions resulting in a coma or even death.

Villagers said students have stopped going to school since Monday because they fear further poisoning at school.

The case first came to light when student Fu Xiaohua began suffering from diarrhea and dizziness. He was taken to a hospital in the provincial capital of Fuzhou for tests at the end of last month. The results showed the child had an excessive 144 micrograms of lead in his blood. Other villagers followed and 80 out of 100 residents tested found they had high levels of lead in their blood.

The Shanghang Huaqiang battery factory started operations in 2006 and its discharges have affected about 3,000 residents in three nearby villages: Jiaoyang, Tangxia and Chongtou.

Officials of the county government told China Daily the power supply for the factory's production will be cut off and its operations will not resume.

Questions:

1. How many students have been found to have excessive amounts of the potentially lethal metal in their blood?

2. What are the effects of having excessive levels of lead in the body?

3. How many residents have been affected by the discharges of lead?

Answers:

1. 80.

2. Harm of the nervous and reproductive systems, high blood pressure, anemia and in extreme cases, convulsions resulting in a coma or even death.

3. About 3,000 in three nearby villages.

（英語點津 Helen 編輯）

About the broadcaster:

Chantal Anderson is a multimedia journalist at the China Daily Web site. Originally from Seattle, Washington she has found her way around the world doing photo essays in Greece, Mexico and Thailand. She is currently completing a double degree in Journalism and International Studies from the University of Washington.