National Plan Targeting Heavy Metal Hot Spots

(Beijing) – The Chinese government is showing fresh determination to address heavy metal pollution.

In a videoconference February 18, Environment Minister Zhou Shengjian ordered agencies at every level of the Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) to "keep a full, close watch on 4,452 companies from now on."

Under a recently approved section of the 12th Five-Year Plan that outlines the fight against toxic contaminants, the Chinese government plans to establish a wide-scale prevention and treatment system for heavy metal contamination, an emergency response system, and an environment and health risk assessment system, all by 2015.

Overall levels of key contaminants cited for special emphasis are supposed to decline 15 percent from 2007 levels by the end of the plan period, while levels of non-key contaminants would not exceed 2007 levels.