Chinese plant shut as over 40 kids suffer lead poisoning

BEIJING - A battery manufacturing factory in south China was closed after more than 40 children, who were living in the vicinity, were found to have excessive lead levels in their blood, an official said.

Aokelai Power Co. Ltd, formerly Zeliang Battery Factory, was just 30 metres from the staff quarters of Jicheng Aluminium Factory in Guangdong province’s Qingyuan city economic zone, said an official with Qingyuan municipal government.

Zhang Ling, a fruit vendor, said her year-old son, Liangliang, underwent medical tests after he lost his appetite. The lead level in the boy’s blood was 320 micrograms a litre, far exceeding the recommended maximum safe level of 100 micrograms a litre.

Xinhua news agency reporters visited 10 families in the area and nine had members who were found to have excessive blood lead levels.

An investigation by Nanfang Daily newspaper earlier this month found 44 children had excessive lead levels. Residents said the number could be much higher as many families with children had moved away.

“The lead pollution source can be confirmed to be the battery factory,” said He Guoxiong, director of Qingyuan Municpal Environmental Protection Bureau.

The municipal government Monday began to organise health examinations for the children,

an official said.