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Three children confirmed to be poisoned by lead

By Guo Anfei in Kunming and Hu Yongqi in Beijing (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2009-09-04 17:21

Three children in Kunming, Yunan province have been poisoned by lead, local officials said Thursday after testing more than 1,800 children. But the tests showed a significant portion of the children had high levels of lead in their blood.

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As of August 15, 388 out of 1,872 children had between 100 and 200 micrograms of lead per liter of blood. Five had between 200 and 249 micrograms per liter, and three children had more than 250 micrograms per liter. The normal amount is between zero and 100 micrograms per liter.

The poisoned children are being treated at home at present under the supervision of doctors.

Cao Shuqiao, a doctor at the provincial center for disease control and prevention, said the excessive levels of lead in the children's blood were likely caused by factors such as car exhaust emissions, and had no direct link with industrial pollutants.

Local officials said all testing and treatment expenses would be covered by the government.