"My children have been poisoned"

Alternate Titles

• Public health crisis in four Chinese provinces
• China

Description

"Rapid economic development in China, without essential oversight and protective measures, has led to widespread environmental pollution and lead poisoning, putting the health of millions of children at risk. Now among the most common pediatric health problems in China, lead poisoning, which disrupts development of the nervous system, has left hundreds of thousands of Chinese children with permanent mental and physical disabilities. This report documents how China has failed in its obligations to respect and protect its citizens' right to health. Focused on areas in Henan, Yunnan, Shaanxi, and Hunan provinces, it shows how local authorities have denied the scope and severity of lead poisoning, arbitrarily limited access to blood lead testing, and withheld or provided test results that inexplicably show improvements in blood lead levels. Children with critically high levels are refused appropriate treatment, and often continue living in contaminated areas where polluting factories still operate. Local police have threatened individuals seeking treatment and information, arrested those trying to protest against polluting factories, and intimidated journalists trying to report on the issue. Over the past decade, the Chinese government has promoted numerous environmental regulations to curb industrial pollution and protect the environment and health of its citizens. It also is a party to international human rights treaties that obligate it to protect the rights of its children, including the right to the highest attainable standard of health. However, corruption and competing economic targets have undermined enforcement of health and environmental regulations." -- Back cover.

Subjects

Links

• http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/china0611WebInside_0.pdf