Group of families say chemical plant in Hunan province is behind high levels of lead in children in test case for environmental pollution law

This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

A court in central China on Friday began hearing a landmark case brought by families who have accused a chemical plant of being responsible for high levels of lead in the blood of their children and grandchildren.



A Reuters reporter was allowed into the courtroom in the town of Hengdong in Hunan province but prevented from doing interviews.

Lawyers have said the case is a test of the central government’s resolve to address the human cost of environmental damage caused by decades of unbridled economic growth in China. It is believed to be the first time a Chinese court is hearing a case involving lead poisoning in a group of children.

The trial comes amid a series of public interest lawsuits filed since a revised environmental protection law that came into effect in January enabled the submission of such cases and increased the penalties for polluters.

Thirteen families in and around nearby Dapu town have accused Melody Chemical, a chemical plant and metal smelter, of pollution that caused elevated levels of lead in the blood of their children and grandchildren. They are seeking compensation, although the precise amount varies by child.

Reuters was unable to speak to either Melody officials or the company’s lawyer inside the court. Previous attempts to reach Melody for comment had been unsuccessful.

Reuters reported in May that of the original 53 families who agreed to participate in the lawsuit, most dropped out, some because of pressure from local officials. Dapu authorities denied any interference.

Dai Renhui, the lawyer for the plaintiffs, said: “This case will be a useful reference for other families affected by pollution, particularly heavy metals pollution, and give them the confidence and courage to use the law to defend their environmental rights.”

Dapu’s lead problem made national headlines in 2014 in an exposé by state broadcaster CCTV, in which the head of the township was shown saying children might have raised their own lead levels by chewing on pencils.

After the broadcast, which said more than 300 children had high lead levels, officials opened an investigation and Melody was ordered to shut down.

In children, high lead exposure leads to cognitive delays and behavioural problems and can be fatal at extremely high levels. Its effects are permanent and irreversible. Studies have shown that childhood lead exposure is associated with higher adult violent crime rates.

Li Laiyin, a farmer who lives on the edge of an industrial park in Dapu, said he was unable to add his grandchildren to the lawsuit because he had insufficient medical records.



Li Wenjie, eight, and Li Xiongwei, 12, were diagnosed with high lead in their blood in 2012 and cannot sit still at school, Li said. “The government hasn’t given a thought to the safety of the people who live here,” he added.

Environmental law experts said the court’s acceptance of the lawsuit was a sign of progress, since courts have usually refused to hear controversial pollution-related cases.

President Xi Jinping’s recent focus on the rule of law had also sent a message to courts, lawyers said.

On 1 June, China’s supreme court issued a judicial interpretation which reiterated that even if emissions from polluting companies were within legal limits, they could still be liable for any harm caused.

At the same time, China’s environmental problems are decades-old, said Ma Jun, the Beijing-based director of the Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs, a non-governmental organisation.

“These are very deep-rooted problems. There is no silver bullet,” said Ma.