China: Lead poisoning children, Shanghai closed 14 factories

Shanghai City has just decided to close 14 of the 17 battery generation plants to refine the technical criteria, after the test results show that 32 children have been poisoned by lead.

>>>Lead pollution due to solar energy development
>>> Solar energy pollutes in China

In 2009, metallurgical factories in China were responsible
When more than 1,000 children are found to be lead poisoned.

Among these factories, there is a plant invested by US corporation Johnson Controls, which will be closed until the end of the year. This plant could be the cause of 32 poisoning of children.

Johnson Controls, a company listed on the New York Stock Exchange, confirmed that the plant was closed, but denied responsibility in the poisoning.

Government officials said 1,100 children had a higher than normal rate of lead in their bodies, compared to 25 according to last week's information.

Lead poisoning, which can slow growth and cause mental disabilities, is quite common in China.

In June, a human rights defender announced a report denouncing the four provinces of Henan, Yunnan, Shaanxi and Hunan to try to conceal the widespread poisoning of lead in children. especially limited testing.

According to the organization, test results have not even been disclosed to victims and families. Children with high rates of lead-contaminated blood are denied medical care, or are only instructed to use foods deemed to be able to reduce the rate of lead, such as apples, garlic, milk and eggs.