S. China: lead poisoning sources brought to justice

Shaoguan (CNS) -- The law has caught up with companies whose operations caused excessive blood lead in about 160 children in Dongtang township, Renhua county, in south China's Guangdong Province. Six have been ordered to shut down and two others urged to stop production for readjustments, according to a press conference held by the county government on Saturday.

The case came to light on February 17 when the first batch of children tested proved to be over safe limits of blood lead, and the number of victims climbed after a local health authority organized a thorough check up for children between the ages of three and 14, as well as some adults. So far, one child is confirmed to be suffering from slight lead poisoning, and the rest 159 have milder traces of the metal.

Factory conditions, water, soil and agricultural products were probed by an expert team dispatched from a national institute working together with provincial authorities. The results were released on Saturday evening, fingering both the polluting companies and the natural environment.

Most of the polluting companies are in the mining and cement industries.