A chemical plant in Hunan Province has been shut down after hundreds of children in the surrounding area have been diagnosed with severe lead poisoning.

Over 300 children were blood tested and found to have dangerously high levels of lead in their systems. The national standard is 100 micrograms per liter; the children were shown to have heavy metal densities as high as 322 micrograms per liter.

Local authorities responded to the results by shutting down the Meilun Chemical Materials Ltd. Residents of the Dapu Township where the incident unfolded ,reported seeing the chemical plant discharging untreated dust and waste water, which could be responsible for the lead poisoning.

Lead poisoning is a serious condition and leads to serious problems in the nervous and reproductive systems. Extreme cases have been known to cause death or induce comas.

Local officials from Dapu Township suggested that the excessive lead poisoning could just be from children chewing their pencils too much. Many are skeptical of this analysis.

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Keywords: Hunan Chemical Plant Shut Down Lead Poisoning