|
Large concentrations of lead and cadmium have been detected in agricultural goods grown near closed mines. Lead poisoning causes appetite loss and fatigue and in severe cases weight loss, abdominal pain and high blood pressure. Cadmium poisoning can cause itai-itai disease, which leads to the loss of bone mass and brittle bones.
The Korea Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday tried to calm fears saying produce from regions near closed mines accounts for only a small portion of agricultural goods being sold. But consumers could still avoid produce grown near closed mines. The tests were conducted on produce grown near 44 out of 936 closed mines, and the rest remain to be checked.
In the case of rice, the Korean staple, lead and cadmium concentrations were above the safe level in 27 percent and 8 percent of 757 cases tested. In the case of cabbage, the main ingredient of kimchi, 27.5 percent and 28.1 percent out of 367 tested cases contained higher-than-permitted concentrations of lead and cadmium. Some 1,08 million sq. m of land was found to be unsafe for growing rice and cabbage.
Up to 38 percent of potatoes, sweet potatoes, spinach, green onions, corn and radishes tested also had unsafe lead and cadmium levels. The test also found other heavy metals including arsenic, copper and mercury but in a permissible concentrations.
It covered 12 areas in Gangwon Province, 10 in North Gyeongsang Province, six in South Jeolla Province, four in North Chungcheong Province and one each in North Jeolla Province and Gyeonggi Province. The test was prompted by warnings from an environmental organization that several villagers near an abandoned mine in Kosong, Gangwon Province had come down with itai-itai disease.
In response, the government will destroy all highly contaminated agricultural products and ban farming in the areas in question for the time being. It will also conduct a massive medical check-up this year for residents of nine areas where serious heavy metal contamination is suspected to assess its impact on their health. Another 20,000 residents near closed mines will get a medical check-up next year.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
|
