valve regulated lead acid battery China plans to rein in heavy metal pollution

BEIJING (Reuters )-
China's Environmental Protection Agency (epa) has vowed to control heavy metal pollution to reduce the discharge of a large number of industrial pollutants such as lead, which have poisoned children and sparked protests.
As the world's largest lead consumer and producer, with the rapid growth of China's economy, China has worked hard to control the pollution industry under relaxed environmental regulations. Lead-
Poisoning, especially child poisoning, has aroused public anger.
Zhou Shengxian, minister of environmental protection, said in a speech on Friday: "preventing heavy metal pollution is related to the health of the people, especially the health of children, and also to the harmony and stability of society . ".
A summary of the speech was published on the ministry's website on Tuesday.
In the new plan proposed by Zhou, Beijing will focus on reducing pollution in key areas and industries, including lead.
By 2007, acid battery manufacturing and lead smelting accounted for 15% of the 2015 level. Other “non-
Key areas with no more than 2007 heavy metal pollution levels will be considered to be effectively controlled, Zhou said.
The plan will include setting local officials accountable for the cuts, Zhou said, adding that serious investigations will be conducted if the region does not meet the requirements of the plan.
China has repeatedly promised to clean up environmental pollution.
But it often fails to match words with resources and political will to carry out Beijing's mandate, as officials put economic development ahead of environmental protection.
In January, lead levels in the blood of more than 200 children living near battery plants in eastern China increased, prompting parents to demand government compensation.
Lead is not the only heavy metal that has caused serious damage to China's environment and citizens' health.
China's gold miner Zijin Mining has been ordered to pay millions of yuan for its role in a series of environmental problems, including 2010 wastewater leaks from Zijinshan copper gold mine in Fujian province, which dumped toxins into the Tingjiang River.
China Daily last week quoted a study by professor of Nanjing Agricultural University as showing that 10% of China's rice market, as well as more than 60% of rice grown in some southern provinces, may contain high levels of cadmium.
Cadmium can damage the lungs, blood, heart and kidneys for a long timeterm exposure.
Yang Ailun, China campaign manager at Greenpeace, said pollution accidents in China have been on the rise in the past five years and could be worse in the next five years.
"Many of the old facilities established 20 years ago have started to expire or collapse," Yang told Reuters . ".
"If they (the government) want to implement more safeguards, it will be very important over the next five years.