Recently, new cases of lead poisoning have been reported in China. In early January, 2011, 228 children in Huaining County, Anhui Province, had blood lead concentrations higher than 100 mug/L, the acceptable level in China and many other countries. 23 of the children with blood lead higher than 250 mug/L had to be sent to a hospital for treatment. The local authority then shut down a factory making batteries that was the source of pollution. From 2009 until now, lead poisoning in several provinces of China has affected more than 4000 children (figure). In Jiyuan City, Henan Province, blood samples from 1008 of 3108 children (32%) living near lead smelters showed lead concentrations higher than 250 mug/L In August, 2009, the waste discharges from a local smelter caused lead poisoning in 851 of 1016 children in Fengxiang County, Shaanxi Province. More than 170 children had to be admitted to hospital. In the same month, 1354 of 1958 children living near the Wugang Manganese Smelting Plant in Hunan Province had blood lead concentrations higher than 100 mug/L Both cases sparked riots by local residents.1 Similar lead poisoning cases also took place in Jiangsu, Fujian, Sichuan, Yunnan, and Guangdong Provinces.
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