80 percent of lead battery companies shut down

Beijing (CNS) – In response to the high occurrence of lead poisoning events across the country, the government has shut down 81 percent of China's lead battery companies in 2011 for failing to meet environmental standards, an official confirmed on Tuesday, and it will continue to carry out its anti-metal pollution campaign this year.

A working conference was held in Beijing with nine governmental organs participating, including the Ministry of Environmental Protection and the National Development and Reform Commission.

Zhou Shengxian, minister of environmental protection, promised at the conference that they will pay attention to industries and areas that are the sources of heavy metal pollution, including lead, cadmium, mercury, chromium and metalloid arsenic.

All provinces are required to update the public about the ongoing situation, including publishing by June 30 a list of miners and processors of heavy non-ferrous metal ores, leather tanning companies and plating companies.