Village outside Hangzhou suffers heavy metals poisoning

Chinese authorities are investigating an outbreak of blood poisoning cases in a village located near a lead battery plant, AP reported. The local government of Deqing, a village near Zhejiang’s provincial capital Hangzhou, has ordered blood tests for nearly 2,000 people after original tests found that 31 villagers, including 11 children, had excessive lead in their blood stream. Zhejiang Haijiu Battery, a major manufacturer of motorcycle batteries, has been ordered to suspend operations. Investigators are also checking 26 other local companies that produce heavy metals waste in Deqing’s development zone.