#Hunan #chemical #plant closed after #lead #poisoning A chemical plant in central Chinas Hunan Province has been closed over suspicions that it caused lead poisoning in hundreds of local children. The Meilun Chemical Materials Limited Company was shuttered after blood tests on more than 300 children in Dapu Township of Hengdong County found excessive levels of lead, indicating heavy metal poisoning, according to the press office of the county government. The lead densities in their blood all exceeded the national standard of 100 micrograms per liter for children, with the tests revealing densities as high as 322 micrograms per liter. Local authorities have set up an investigation team. Locals had reported the plant discharging untreated dust and wastewater, both of which could have caused the childrens poisoning. Excessive amounts of lead in the blood damage the nervous and reproductive systems and can cause high blood pressure and anemia. In severe cases, it can lead to convulsions, comas and death. The mayor of the town, Su Genlin, drew particular scorn after he suggested that the lead poisoning might have come from children chewing on pencils. Chinese netizens on Sina Weibo were skeptical of the official speculation. “I watched the news program, in which the mayor of the town said the children were poisoned by pencils. Too ignorant.” @benson7706 “The paint used in the pencil coat contains lead, but only in very small amounts. The mayor was stupid because how could over 300 people want to bite pencils. Even though they probably did chew pencils, the tiny amount would not lead to poisoning. At least no such cases have been reported.” @shensanshi “I feel sad about the news. Why did the local officials ignore the lives of children? Don’t they know that it’s a crime to be indulgent with factory production like this? It’s without virtue and harmful to our offspring. Three hundred children are being poisoned… The taxes from the factory, or children’s health, which is more important?! We should think about why incidents like this happen over and over.” @congmangdeguoke_31612
Posted on: Mon, 16 Jun 2014 14:00:00 +0000
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