More than 40 schoolchildren in northeast China's Liaoning Province have fallen sick a week
after they moved into newly-furnished classrooms, families and
doctors said on Sunday.
At least 45 primary and secondary school students were sent to a
hospital in the provincial capital Shenyang Saturday and Sunday
from Panjin, a city 100 kilometers to its south.
"The children all complained of nausea and fragility in the
limbs," said a father who only gave his son's name as Wang Zhenji.
"More students are probably arriving later during the day."
The students are under observation at Shengjing Hospital
affiliated to the Chinese University of Medical Sciences. Hospital
sources said they were receiving further checkups to decide whether
it was poisoning.
The children included primary and secondary school students at
Shalingzhen School in Panshan County in Panjin. They all pointed a
finger to the newly painted classroom walls and new furniture,
which "gave out a sickening odor".
An official with the provincial health department said they have
launched an investigation and have sent a medical team to Panshan
County, where more students are feared sick.
School authorities ruled out likelihood for food poisoning in a
telephone interview with Xinhua on Sunday.
Health experts have repeatedly warned homebuyers of toxic
emissions in their new homes, particularly cancer-causing benzene
that is often found in paint and formaldehyde which is commonly
used in kitchen cabinets, shelving, countertops and
ready-to-assemble furniture.
(Xinhua News Agency April 29, 2007)