Forty nine people, including 47 children, have been found to have abnormally high blood lead levels, according to the local health department in Longchang County, Sichuan Province on March 11.

Last month, a villager of Yujian, Zhang Jiayou, complained to the environmental protection hotline, saying his family was found to have higher levels of lead in their blood after receiving physical examinations. He suspected it was caused from the pollution of the nearby alloy company Zhongyi Alloy.

Authorities immediately launched an audit on the local factories, demanding Zhongyi Alloy Company suspend production. Local medical services also conducted a blood lead level test on 1,756 people from the surrounding 4 villages.

As of 2 pm on March 11, a total of 589 people had received the medical reports, among whom 49 had an abnormally high blood lead level.

The Longchang County Environmental Protection Bureau, Disease Control Center and Agriculture Bureau have conducted pollution tests on the surface water, ground water, crops and soil in the region. Samples have been sent to the provincial agencies for reexamination.

Meanwhile, the local government has also invited a group of experts to conduct lectures on blood lead levels.

The county's authorities say they are closely watching the health situation and are giving free blood lead level tests to everyone within an 800-meter perimeter.