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Mercury poisoning hits 152 workers
(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-01-08 07:52
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A total of 152 factory workers in Guangdong province are suffering from suspected mercury poisoning, medical tests have shown.
The workers were employed by Foshan Electrical and Lighting Co Ltd in the manufacturing city of Foshan, said Yu Zhouhong, deputy head of Gaoming district, where the company is located.
The workers are on paid leave while they undergo further testing at the Guangdong Prevention and Treatment Center for Occupational Diseases, Yu said.
A provincial labor and social security bureau spokesman said the workers could claim compensation from their employer if they are confirmed as suffering from mercury poisoning.
The provincial center for the prevention and treatment of occupational diseases collected urine samples from 590 workers of the company's T8 workshop between Dec 18-20, after 23 showed excessive mercury levels in tests they paid for themselves.
All six production lines at the factory use liquid mercury, but some workers seldom took the trouble to wear a mask at work, said the company's human resources manager Lu Ruijin.
Lu said some of the workers showed symptoms such as headaches, hair loss, joint ache and shivers.
Zhu Wangzhong, a migrant worker from Central China's Hunan province, said he feared he was suffering a "fatal disease" after three years in the job.
"I have a constant headache and have rash on my skin every time I take a shower," said the 38-year-old.
Doctors said Zhu's urine showed a high level of mercury and suggested chronic poisoning.
Guo Yong, a doctor and member of the province's expert panel for occupational illnesses, said mild to moderate cases of mercury poisoning could be cured in about two weeks, if treated in time.
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Three of the production lines have been renovated to use solid, instead of liquid, mercury. Renovation is underway on the remaining three lines and should be completed by the end of January.
"Solid mercury is less volatile and therefore less harmful to the workers," said Yang Aichu, an expert for the treatment of occupational diseases based in the provincial capital Guangzhou.
Yang said mercury poisoning is often caused by inhalation of mercury vapor and dust of mercury compounds.
Foshan Electrical and Lighting Co Ltd is a public company and leading manufacturer of lighting products in China. It employs more than 1,000 people.
