Earlier this month we reported that harmful gases being emitted from a synthetic racetrack were responsible for sickening children at one of Beijing schools. The incident was not an isolated one in China, but this specific case did cause public outrage over the issue and helped prompt further investigations.
In an update to the story, South China Morning Post reports the synthetic running tracks that were poisoning children in Beijing, and in schools around China, were made from industrial waste, such as rubber tires and old cables.
An undercover investigation which recently aired on CCTV revealed that numerous small mills have been operating in Hebei province, just outside of Beijing. The investigation concluded that the mills were operating without licenses and were found to be using old rubber tires, cables and other trash. These mills were selling the raw materials to companies which, in turn, produced the harmful synthetic tracks for schools around China, including Beijing.
It was reported that industrial waste was intentionally used to cut costs. One specific mill near Cangzhou was described as resembling a garbage dump that gave off a putrid odor, the CCTV report said.
The news has, once again, caused public outrage about the issue.
In May, dozens of children fell ill, suffering from nosebleeds, coughs and lightheadedness at the Baiyunlu campus of Beijing No.2 Experimental School in Xicheng District. After conducting tests on the track, officials found an unhealthy amount of benzene substances and formaldehyde.
An estimated 32 schools around China have reported similar cases involving synthetic race tracks.
0 User Comments