China shuts US plant in lead scare

An American-owned battery plant in China will remain shut until the end of the year over fears it has caused lead poisoning in local children, the Shanghai Daily reported on Friday. The factory, run by US Fortune 500 company Johnson Controls, was one of two plants closed down temporarily last week by Shanghai authorities after tests on local children found some had excessive lead in their blood.
At the time, the government gave no time frame, but the Shanghai Daily said the plant would remain closed for three months. The number of children living near the plants with excessive lead levels had risen to 32 from 25 last week.