Officials Deny Necessary Blood Testing and Intimidate Worried Parents
Xiao Wu is a fragile, listless 10-year old, whose thinness reflects her difficulty digesting food. She has lead poisoning, caused by the smelter across the street from her home in Henan province. Xiao Wu is one of hundreds of thousands of child lead poisoning victims in an epidemic spreading across China, a new report says.
China’s deputy environment minister has spoken of health problems caused by pollution, and in recent years the country has passed a number of environmental regulations. However, these protections are enforced sporadically. Local government officials often shield economic interests, ignoring competing health problems.
Local authorities in contaminated areas offer limited blood testing. Often, sick children have suspiciously normal blood test results. Sometimes authorities withhold results. Officials tell children with high blood lead levels to eat garlic or drink milk, denying them legitimate care.
Children with acute lead poisoning need to be hospitalized and given chelation therapy. Failure to provide prompt treatment can lead to permanent mental and physical disabilities, or even death.
The Chinese government needs to enforce its environmental controls, ensure its children’s right to health, and hold violators accountable. Otherwise, it will be responsible for the children, like Xiao Wu, who suffer the consequences.
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