14 stand trial over arsenic pollution in China

Fourteen people from six mining companies stood trial on Thursday in central China over arsenic pollution which poisoned 49 villagers.

The defendants were accused of discharging 680 tonnes of pollutants containing arsenic from 2008 to 2013, which seriously contaminated environment, said prosecutors.

They confessed to causing the pollution during the trial at the People's Court of Xialu District, Huangshi City.

Forty-nine villagers suffered arsenic poisoning while urine samples of 118 others were found to contain excessive levels of the element.

The pollution caused losses of more than 8 million yuan (1.3 million US dollars).

Seven people, including five local environmental protection officials, have been sentenced to different jail terms over the scandal.