China is going through what England experienced, first in the late 18th century, then again from about 1830, but enormously speeded up and on a larger scale. Reformers and the working class in England had to struggle for safer working conditions. In western countries - formerly known as ‘developed countries’ - vigilance is still necessary. Greed, corruption and sheer recklessness are not geographically confined. Campaigns in the West against toxic pollution are on-going and probably increasing, as more becomes known about the full impacts of pollutants. In China, as elsewhere, however, it’s not always about greed, corruption, and recklessness. Sometimes it’s lack of knowledge about the danger, and people are needlessly exposed, just as they are in Australia.

Ng and Beedham discuss potential sources of lead poisoning in China, which include some favourite foods and traditional medicines. Disposal of e-waste is a problem, and this includes batteries used by the increasingly popular e-bikes.

China’s 12 year plan will, if successful, shift its economy from exporting cheap manufactured goods into supplying the domestic market, raising wages, and shifting many millions of workers into service industries.  The intention is also to lift wages in manufacturing, and encourage people to spend some of the up to 50% of their incomes that they currently save (and lend to the rest of the world), on locally-produced manufactured goods and on services. This transformation will surely encourage a larger proportion of the population to demand more control of pollution.

China is expanding its influence: for example, industrial and economic incursions into Burma - where the local population is in no position to demand either better working conditions or control of pollution.

Lead pollution in China featured in an earlier newsletter: LANv10n3

Ng and Beedham have also contributed a smaller article which adds to the debate over whether breastfeeding should be discouraged in cases where lead in  breast milk can elevate infant blood lead levels Breastfeeding wins - sorry to tell you how the story ends -but those mothers who can not or choose not to breastfeed for various reasons, can take measures to protect their infant from lead poisoning.

The Toxic and Heavy Metals Taskforce, Tasmania (THMTT) returns with three articles on the dispute about Rosebery, a small mining town on the west coast of Tasmania, which has previously featured in two previous LANs: LAN v10n4 and LAN V11n2.

We reproduce the correspondence from The LEAD Group regarding its proposals about Blood Lead Levels in Australia, which were rejected by the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (NHMRC), and The LEAD Group’s reply to NHMRC.

Finally, a call for sponsorship of a poster for display in hardware stores, to alert people intending to renovate, of the dangers of lead, and what to do about it, and the offer of a free booklet.