Society

Over 600 people poisoned by lead in E China

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-06-12 17:01

HANGZHOU - More than 600 people, including 103 children, have been found to be suffering from lead poisoning in East China's Zhejiang province, according to local health authorities.

Workers and their children in 25 family-run tinfoil processing workshops in Zhejiang's township of Yangxunqiao have dangerously high levels of lead in their blood, according to results from a preliminary medical test.

Results from the test showed that 26 adults and 103 children are suffering from severe lead poisoning, or with more than 600 microgrammes of lead per liter of blood, said a spokesman with the county's health bureau.

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The 129 poisoning victims are undergoing a second test, and 12 of them are receiving treatment at a local hospital, the spokesman said.

Another 494 people have been found to be suffering from moderate lead poisoning, or with 400 to 600 microgrammes of lead per liter of blood, the spokesman said.

Lead is commonly used in tinfoil processing. Workers and their family members, including children, are constantly exposed to lead materials in the family-run workshops in Yangxunqiao.

Medical experts say that although children tend to absorb more lead than adults, they also discharge far less, which can lead to fatal levels of lead in their blood.

Excessive amounts of lead in the blood can damage the digestive, nervous, and reproductive systems and cause stomachaches, anemia and convulsions.

The 25 workshops have suspended operations, according to the township government.

In the township of Yangxunqiao, more than 2,500 people are employed by nearly 200 tinfoil processing workshops.