China’s latest problem is lead pollution threat to children living in the vicinity of Wugang manganese smelting plant in Hunan province. Officials on Thursday announced that 1354 children living in the smelter’s vicinity have excess lead inn their blood. all these children are below 14. Officials expect the number of affected childen could rise.

The admission has sparked off public protests. About 1000 people staged a protest, blocked the road leading to the plant and clashed with the police. 

Chinese factories are known to spew pollutants with their greed for profits but this is the first time their lack of concern for children’s health stands exposed.

An affected family said tests showed the blood of her  10-month old younger daughter contained 362 micrograms of lead per litre;  her elder sister’s blood contained 232 micrograms. The maximum safety standard in China is 100 micrograms.
Authorities have since ordered the smelter to shut last week and detained two of its executives. The plant went into production in May 2008. It has not submitted to any environmental safety tests even though schools and a nursery are within 500m of the plant.