The number of children showing lead poisoning blamed on a smelting plant in northern China has doubled to more than 600, state media reported.
Tests showed at least 615 children out of 731 living in two villages near the plant in Changqing Township, Shaanxi Province, had excessive lead levels in their blood, Xinhua news agency said, citing the local Fengxiang County government.
A total of 166 were hospitalized, while the rest were to be treated at home to rid their bodies of the excess lead, it said yesterday.
Authorities on Wednesday announced the closure of the plant blamed for the poisoning, the Dongling Lead and Zinc Smelting Co. Xinhua said it had yet to be directly established if pollution by the company caused the children’s illness.
Children living in other areas near the plant were also undergoing tests.
The lead levels in the blood of the children tested ranged from 100mg to more than 500mg per liter, compared with normal levels of between zero and 100mg, Xinhua reported.
More than 200mg is considered hazardous, with children more vulnerable to lead poisoning, which can harm the nervous system.
Villager Lei Xiaofei said his nine-year-old daughter was admitted to hospital yesterday after tests revealed high lead levels.
“Her blood lead level was 506mg a liter, the highest of all the children tested. I really fear it might do her permanent harm,” he told Xinhua.
Two other children were also admitted with lead levels of 480mg per liter and 499mg per liter.
It was not immediately clear how the children were poisoned, but officials have been taking samples of groundwater, soil, air and sewage to check for contamination.
Residents who lived within 500m of the plant were supposed to have been relocated, but so far only 156 families have been able to move to new homes, state media reported earlier this week.
The county government has begun building new homes for the 425 families still living next to the plant, Xinhua reported yesterday.
The new homes, located 1km from the factory, are expected to be ready within two years.
“I’m ready to move, the earlier the better, as long as the new place has water, electricity and easier access to transport,” Lu Tao, who lives 100m from the plant, was quoted as saying.
Many poverty-stricken regions in China’s interior have introduced high-polluting industries without the necessary environmental evaluation in a desperate bid to boost economic growth, state media said.
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