Another toxic metal pollution scandal has erupted on the mainland, this time in Anhui province, with at least 24 children, aged between nine months and 16 years, being admitted to hospital for lead poisoning.
They were among more than 200 children in Gaohe town, Huaining county, who were found with excessive concentrations of lead in their blood.
The outbreak yet again reveals a bleak picture of the country's widespread land pollution problems following heavy-metal poisoning scandals in Shandong , Hunan , Shaanxi , Jiangsu and Guangdong in the past two years.
The county government accuses the Borui battery factory, which had been allowed to operate illegally since 2007 just across the street from a residential area, of causing the poisoning.
Although authorities said the factory had been closed since last month, when the first case of lead poisoning was discovered, residents said the factory continued to operate until Wednesday.
Locals also complained that authorities had yet to shut another bigger battery factory in their neighbourhood, which they believed was another main source of lead pollution.
