Worms, not chemical 'to blame for rash'

A skin rash that recently affected more than 1,000 cotton farmers in Jianli county, Hubei province, was caused by boll worms, an official said yesterday.

The rash was initially blamed on the release of vanadium from nearby illegal factories.

Wen Qingsong, vice-director of the Hubei environmental protection bureau, told China Daily the skin rash "is not related to vanadium according to tests done by the provincial health department".