Zhejiang tells schools to test for toxins

Education authorities in Zhejiang province have ordered strict oversight of school running tracks following parents' claims that their children had fallen ill after using a new facility.

The Zhejiang Provincial Education Department released a regulation on Sunday requiring all primary and secondary schools to have their running tracks checked to ensure they do not contain toxic materials. Schools have also been told to examine the bidding and building process for new tracks.

The move followed a claim by several parents that children studying at Yuhai Central Primary School in Rui'an had suffered symptoms including nosebleeds, fevers and rashes since early in May after being exposed to a new plastic running track that was built in October.