About 140 workers in Guangzhou Nanfang Guangyuan Super Energy Battery Ltd. suffered lead poisoning but were forced to work after receiving treatment, the Guangzhou Daily reported Thursday, citing a worker of the company.

The worker surnamed Hou had been in the polishing workshop for three years. He said he started suffering stomachaches in March and was diagnosed with chronic gastritis.

A female worker who also suffered stomachache went to see a doctor and was diagnosed with lead poisoning. More than 140 discovered they had lead poisoning after the company's 400 workers took a physical April 27. According to Hou, the factory was seriously polluted.

Another worker said the hospital asked him to receive treatment for three consecutive days because the lead concentration in his blood had badly exceeded the normal scale. However, the factory demanded he work immediately after the treatment.

The company denied the claims. Wang Zonglu, general manager of the firm, said they had warned the workers against lead poisoning when recruiting and set safety rules for workers.

Lead and its compounds harm the body's nerve, digestive and nephritic systems. A lawyer suggested the workers take the issue to court, since China had specific laws on occupational diseases and injuries.

(Shenzhen Daily June 3, 2005)