Report: China lax in treating, policing lead poisoning

By Ed Payne and Steven Jiang

Beijing (CNN) -- Hundreds of thousands of children in China are being condemned to permanent mental and physical disabilities because of high exposure to lead caused by industrial pollution, according to a report by the watchdog group Human Rights Watch.

"Children with dangerously high levels of lead in their blood are being refused treatment and returned home to contaminated houses in polluted villages," said Joe Amon, the group's health and human rights director.

The 75-page report is based on interviews in Henan, Hunan, Shaanxi and Yunnan provinces, and research in the cities of Beijing and Shanghai between late 2009 and early 2010, according to the group.

Human Rights Watch says testing for lead is limited and arbitrary in these provinces, while parents are unable to access "effective" medical treatment for their children with high levels of lead in their blood.

Doctors say children are most susceptible to lead poisoning because it interferes with the development of the nervous system and can cause learning and behavior disorders.

In severe cases, it can be fatal.

Earlier this month, the Chinese government announced tougher regulations and penalties for related industries.

"We have recently put forward a notice on strengthening the management of lead battery and renewable lead industries where there are strict management and punitive policy measures," said Li Ganjie, vice minister of Ministry of Environment Protection.

"For those enterprises with serious environmental problems, they will be closed down for rectification," he said, adding that local officials will "shoulder the responsibility and be held accountable" for any accidents.

However, the report says these promises fall short of addressing the health consequences of lead poisoning and fulfilling the right to health for children exposed to lead.

The group challenged authorities to address the immediate and long-term health care needs of people in contaminated villages, as well as see that polluted areas are cleaned up.

"It's not enough to penalize factory owners and officials after a village is severely contaminated," Amon said. "The government needs to provide treatment and to make sure that children aren't immediately re-exposed to toxic levels of lead."

CNN's Helena Hong contributed to this report.


(2011-6-16/CNN)