China shuts smelters after mass poisoning

Enviromine

Publishing Date: 01 Sep 2009 5:10pm GMT
Author: Mining, People and the Environment

Health and Safety Pollution & Waste management

Chinese authorities could shut down up to one-third of the lead smelting capacity In the country’s Shaanxi province after more than 1,300 children were found to have dangerously high blood lead levels.

The authorities closed the Jinglian manganese smelter earlier this month after 1,000 local people blocked roads as part of a protest about pollution from the smelter.

Jinglian was the second case of lead poisoning in children in the area in as many months.

Health and environmental officials have also been sent to the region to investigate the levels of pollution.

Two environmental officials are also being investigated for neglecting their duties, Chinese press has reported.

China has a legacy of pollution from its rapid industrialisation, and it has been suggested that these cases will be the first in a wave of pollution-related health issues.

But the country is working to clean up its image and has already rejected Yn147 billion (US$21 billion) in projects that have been determined to be environmentally unsound. It also spent Yn34 billion on environmental protection measures last year.