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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| 'Hundreds ill' near China smelter | 'Hundreds ill' near China smelter |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Authorities in China have closed a second metal smelter after more than 1,300 children fell sick with lead poisoning, state media have reported. | Authorities in China have closed a second metal smelter after more than 1,300 children fell sick with lead poisoning, state media have reported. |
| The children were living near a manganese plant in Wenping, in Hunan province, Xinhua news agency said. | The children were living near a manganese plant in Wenping, in Hunan province, Xinhua news agency said. |
| Two executives of the plant have been detained over the poisoning. | Two executives of the plant have been detained over the poisoning. |
| It follows the closure of another smelter in northern Shaanxi province, where more than 600 children were found to have lead poisoning. | It follows the closure of another smelter in northern Shaanxi province, where more than 600 children were found to have lead poisoning. |
| In both cases, the smelters were closed after angry parents confronted authorities over their children's illnesses. | In both cases, the smelters were closed after angry parents confronted authorities over their children's illnesses. |
| Lead poisoning can cause a range of health problems, from learning disabilities to seizures. Children under six are most at risk. | Lead poisoning can cause a range of health problems, from learning disabilities to seizures. Children under six are most at risk. |
| Air, soil and water pollution is common in China, which has seen rapid economic growth over the past few decades. | Air, soil and water pollution is common in China, which has seen rapid economic growth over the past few decades. |
| Protests | |
| An official in Wenping township, in Hunan, said that 1,354 children living in four villages near the Wugang Manganese Smeltering Plant had excessive levels of lead in their blood, Xinhua said. | |
| All the children are under 14 years old. | |
| Adults in the area began to suspect the smelter as the cause of a rash of illnesses among their children and on 8 August blocked a road in protest. | |
| The smelter, which had been operating since May last year without approval from the local environmental protection bureau, was closed on 13 August. | |
| On Monday, angry parents in Shaanxi province broke into the Dongling Lead and Zinc Smelting Company, near the city of Baoji. | |
| More than 600 children were found to have lead poisoning, with at least 150 of them treated in hospital. |