Lead pollution exposes loopholes

Lead pollution in Fengxiang, Shanxi province, has exposed the local government and environment department. The authorities should take immediate steps to win back their credibility, says an article in The Beijing News. Excerpt:

The public has severely criticized the lead pollution incident in Fengxiang. Of the 731 children who underwent a medical check-up 615 had high lead levels in their blood.

Although the local government said it would provide free medical treatment to the sick children, and relocate the residents to protect them against lead pollution, the incident is far from over.

According to the local authorities, as the only lead and zinc metallurgy factory in Fengxiang, Shanxi Dongling Smelting Ltd should be responsible.

But the local environment department report showed that pollutant discharge from the factory was not above the accepted national level.

Furthermore, children at the site where the authorities plan to relocate the affected residents were also found with high levels of lead in their blood.

The lead poisoning in Fengxiang has exposed the malfeasance of the local government and environment department. Residents around the smelting plant were to be relocated in 2006, when it began operating. But they were there until yesterday. The authorities should inform the people in detail about their plans if they want to win back public trust.

(China Daily 08/18/2009 page9)