At least 83 people have been poisoned as a result of contact with heavy metals in the Dianzhong Copper Smelter in Southwest China's Yunnan Province.

Such poisoning occurs as a result of contact with heavy metals with a specific gravity greater than about 5, such as lead or mercury, which are extremely toxic.

By press time, 76 people in the province's Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture had been hospitalized suffering from the poisoning.

But luckily, no deaths have been reported.

The People's Hospital of Chuxiong is crowded with the victims and medical staff have been kept busy with physical examinations and blood transfusions.

The provincial health authorities said the initial investigation found that heavy metals containing arsenic and cadmium were the probable cause of the poisonings.

But officials in charge of the investigation cannot be reached for further comment.

The provincial authorities in charge of workplace safety and the federation of trade unions have been taking part in the investigation at the smelter.

The hospital head Liu Zhigang said the first case of poisoning was discovered on Sunday evening and that the rest of the cases appeared over the next three days.

A careful investigation has been carried out at the factory and hospital examinations have been arranged for all workers who have had contact with the metals to check for signs of poisoning.

Local sources said the about 400 workers are employed in the factory.

(China Daily September 11, 2003)