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Mass mercury poisoning at China factory: report
Beijing (AFP) Jan 7, 2010 Over 150 workers at an electrical factory in southern China have tested positive for suspected mercury poisoning, state press said Thursday, in the latest work-safety scandal to hit the nation. Urine samples from 590 workers at the Foshan Electrical and Lighting Co. in Guangdong province were tested late last month after a smaller group was diagnosed with mercury poisoning, Xinhua news agency said. Initially 23 workers were diagnosed with mercury poisoning after taking tests that they paid for themselves, the report said. During the subsequent tests, 152 workers were identified as suspected cases and were preparing for further tests. "All six production lines of the workshop used liquid mercury, but some workers seldom took the trouble to wear a mask at work," Xinhua cited the company's human resources manager, Lu Ruijin, as saying. Workers had shown symptoms such as headaches, hair loss, aching joints and shivers, the report said. Serious mercury poisoning affects the body's immune system and can lead to a range of problems including psychological disorders, loss of teeth and problems with the digestive, cardiovascular and respiratory tracts. The suspected poisoning sufferers were given paid leave and will be eligible for compensation if the diagnosis is confirmed, the report said, citing officials in Guangdong, the heartland of China's light manufacturing sector. China's work-safety record is notorious, and thousands of people die every year in mines, factories and on construction sites, according to official sources. Pollution-related health scares are also common in China, where an emphasis on economic growth over the past three decades has led to widespread disregard for environmental protection. A spate of lead poisoning among children living too close to heavily polluting factories came to light last year and state press routinely report on increasingly angry protests over the issue.
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