Water poisoning sickens 450

Contaminated water in villages in southern China has sickened 450 people, with four people suffering from arsenic poisoning, state media reported. All 647 residents of two villages in Guangxi were tested for arsenic poisoning after reports of symptoms such as vomiting, blurred vision and facial swelling emerged on October 3. Torrential rains from a typhoon in late September had caused waste water pools belonging to Jinhai Metallurgy Chemical Co to overflow. Metal industries in the area have been ordered to suspend production pending inspections and rebuilding of waste water discharge equipment.