23 workers suffer from mercury poisoning in Guangdong

Twenty-three workers at Zhaoming Corporation in Foshan, Guangdong Province tested positive for mercury poisoning, a local authority confirmed.

The workers at the lamp manufacturer were found to have excessive mercury content in their bodies after physical examinations, five times the amount allowed.

Peng Zhengjia, an employee of Foshan Zhaoming Corporation said that since last year his gums were bleeding, he had skin allergies and headaches. His other colleagues have similar symptoms. Peng' s daily work involves pouring mercury into a machine, making him in contact with mercury every day.

He took a physical examination that showed the mercury in his body far exceeded normal amount allowed. Then 22 other workers in the company took medical exams that showed the same result.

There are reports an investigation is underway and the urine samples of more than 600 employees were collected and sent to Guangdong Occupational Disease Prevention Hospital for testing and awaiting the results.

Source: Global Times