Plant's poor safety saw 266 poisoned

Poor health and safety measures at a zinc processing plant in northwest China's Gansu Province have left 266 workers with high levels of cadmium, hospitalizing 71.

Some 869 workers at Baohui Group, the biggest zinc smelter in Gansu, have received checkups and 266 were found to have high levels of the metal, China News Service reported yesterday.

While workers with minor ailments were treated by medics at the factory, 71 were admitted to Huixian County People's Hospital.

An investigation found poor protection measures were to blame for the high cadmium levels in workers' blood.

Production at the Gansu facility has been halted and a safety assessment is under way, the report said.

The factory has suspended cadmium recycling work and processed cadmium waste discharged from the factory, according to the report.

Cadmium poisoning is caused by inhaling cadmium particles, which can lead to ailments that include pneumonia, fluid on the lungs and kidney problems.

Baihui Group, which has total assets of 2.39 billion yuan (US$375 million), has more than 1,700 employees.


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