Hunan manganese plant shut down after 1,300 children poisoned

A manganese processing plant in Hunan provinces was closed and two factory officials detained after 1,300 children in the area were found to have excessive levels of lead in their blood, AP reported, citing state media. The Wugang Manganese Smelting Plant in Wenping township, Hunan province, located within 500 meters of a school, began operations in May 2008 without environmental bureau approval. Nearly 70% of children tested had high levels of lead in their blood. The detention of the officials comes shortly after a lead and zinc smelter in Shaanxi province became the target of protests by local parents whose children had been found to suffer from lead poisoning.