Six additional villages near a smelting plant in northwest China are sending their children for government-sponsored blood tests since more than 800 youngsters living near the facility were found to have excessive levels of lead in their blood.

Shaanxi Province's Fengxiang County decided to expand the test in the area around the now-closed Dongling Lead and Zinc Smelting Co to eliminate residents' concerns, even though the additional six villages were probably a safe distance from the plant, health officials said yesterday.

Meanwhile, a 19-year-old girl who lived near the plant and tried to commit suicide because her parents refused her request for a blood test was recovering and will be discharged from the hospital before Monday. A later blood test turned out to be normal.

(Shanghai Daily August 21, 2009)