51 children suffer lead poisoning in Jiangsu
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Fifty-one children have been found to have excessive levels of lead in their blood following health checks of 110 children in east China's Jiangsu Province.
The local government has closed a battery factory which was suspected of being the source of the pollution and began health checks of all children living in Dafeng Economic District in Yancheng city, according to Modern Express newspaper.
Zhang Fushu, grandfather of one of the victims, discovered his ten month-old grandson had lost his appetite, and was vomiting and crying continually in August 2009. After health checks, it was found that the level of lead in the boy's blood was 313 micrograms a liter, far exceeding the recommended maximum safe level of 100 micrograms a liter.
Villagers also complained that environment had deteriorated since Shengxiang Battery Ltd. Company was built on the opposite bank of the river running by the village in 2007, complaining of the awful smell, and the increasing number of children in the village suffering from lead poisoning.
The battery factory, which produced lead-acid batteries, was located around one hundred meters away from the village and was considered responsible for the pollution and ordered to cease production in November, 2009.
However, Cheng Qihua, the general manager of company defended that they have all the necessary qualifications. "We are going to be broke if we cease production," said Cheng.
Another official with the company also confirmed they had warned of the threat of pollution when they decided to invest in the district, but the official in charge of the investment gave the plans the go-ahead.
At a local press conference held on January 3rd, local authorities promised to make every effort to treat the victim children and give medical checks to those suspected to be suffering from poisoning.
They also revealed that the company has been ordered to relocate in order to eliminate the source of the pollution.
