Villagers protest against battery factory pollution

Toxic pollution from a lead-acid battery factory in Jiangxi province, central China, has caused social unrest in recent months, Caixin reports. Changxing, a company that manufactures batteries for electric bicycles and cars, was punished for illegal discharges of lead contaminated solid waste back in May. But the company’s toxic legacy remains. Elevated levels of lead have been found in the blood of children living nearby, which could lead to developmental problems and neurological disorders. Angered villagers protested in front of the company’s building in July. The Caixin report highlights that companies like Changxing were welcomed to the region by revenue-hungry local governments after being rejected on pollution grounds by more developed coastal provinces.