 |
Catholics in China’s Shaanxi province say they hope recent cases of lead poisoning among children will lead to increased environmental protection and better-managed development.
Following media reports on cases in Fengxiang county, the local government has confirmed that excessive amounts of lead had been detected in 851 children, UCA News says. It said 174 children, whose blood contained more than 250 micrograms of lead per liter, were hospitalized for treatment.
The World Health organization sets 100 micrograms per liter as an acceptable blood lead level, but some experts warn no “safe” level exists for children. In severe cases, lead poisoning can cause muscle weakness, brain damage and coma.
The sick children are from Sunjia Nantou and Madukou villages, where six Catholic families also live.
Some lay leaders who visited Sunjia Nantou recently claimed that pollution from a nearby smelting plant had caused the lead poisoning, which they said had affected three Catholic toddlers.
Parents noticed “lack of appetite, frequent crying and slow responses” among their children, and tests confirmed lead poisoning, the laypeople said.
One of the Catholic children, Sun Wenzhuo, was hospitalized with a blood lead level of 364 micrograms per liter, they reported. The two other affected Catholic children there, aged 8 months and 2 years, were undergoing treatment at home.
An 11-year-old Catholic child in Madukou village is also receiving treatment at home, the lay leaders said.
“We hope these cases raise general awareness about environmental protection and that the wellbeing of the majority and the environment should not be sacrificed for economic growth,” one of them said. “The peasants are usually the ones who receive the least protection,” he added.
Villagers reported that Fr John Zhang Donghu, who heads Chencun parish, which covers the two villages, led parishioners in praying for the affected children.
The two villages are located within two kilometers of the Dongling Lead and Zinc Smelting Factory, the only company involved in lead production in the area. Reportedly it suspended operations on government orders after villagers blocked the factory entrance.
Since the smelter is a major industry in the area, the government has proposed resettling the villagers about one kilometer further away from the site, the Catholics said.
SOURCE
ead poisoning cases spur concern for environment (UCA News)
(No Ratings Yet)
Loading ...378 words
Share this article:
Subscribe to our feed (RSS)
Share a story with us
Follow us on Twitter