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Article

24 May 2011

Author:
Shi Jiangtao, SCMP [China]

The toxic legacy [China]

Thousands of villagers in Hunan are still living in the shadow of one of the worst pollution scandals on the mainland. And while the authorities have preferred to ignore their pleas for help, they may now have the proof they need - in their blood…People are dying of pollution-related diseases two years after the Xianghe Chemical factory was shut down…[V]illagers say as many as 20 people have been killed by metal poisoning, so far…Blood tests carried out this month by Beijing's Chaoyang Hospital showed three out of four villagers were suffering from high levels of cadmium, an extremely toxic metal which is used to make batteries… The villagers are struggling to cope with their illnesses without proper medical support, let alone fair compensation…