Blog 7: Pollution blamed for lead poisoning of kids

 

 Of the 1,306 children living in the Kangqiao area of Pudong district that had their blood tested in late 2011, 49 children, mainly between the ages of one and three, were found to have elevated blood lead levels. The children became sick when they were exposed to airborne lead, a very toxic chemical if ingested.
 Shanghai Johnson Controls International Battery Co., Ltd. discharged excess airborne lead as it expanded production without governmental permits, identifying the company as the major source of lead contamination in the area. All the businesses associated with this incident have shut down for the current time being. In the meantime the municipal government is working to formulate pollution emission standards for battery plants to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future. However, effects and planning of these emissions will not be immediate and might take a long time to come into effect.

                                                    

This is a major problem; the pollution is so severe in China that children are being affected drastically. I think this event shows that there really isn’t enough standards and regulation going on in china in the business world. These children will now live with diseases that the government will take no responsibility for. I think this article goes to show that china needs to step up with its control over pollution and do it fast. What should these companies be responsible for and should they be responsible for taking care of what their pollution did to these children? How should we bring about the solution to all of these pollution problems happening in china?



http://www.china.org.cn/china/2012-02/26/content_24732360.htm