THE INDUSTRY NEEDS STANDARDIZATION
Shaoxing has a long history of producing tinfoil that goes back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), according to the Shaoxing Daily. Tinfoil is used to make sacrificial offerings, such as tinfoil ingots that are burned to show respect to Buddha or ancestors, and tinfoil production is now listed as a local intangible cultural heritage.
Tintoil made in Shaoxing is mainly exported to southeast Asian countries.
This flourishing industry has never been considered health-threatening, until now, as 74 people have been hospitalized,including 72 children.
The local government has a plan for the treatment of the victims and has also decided to allocate money to those children suffering from severe lead poisoning.
Twenty-five workshops have suspended operations, according to the township government.
"Although this industry lacks regulations, we couldn't shut down all the workshops in Shaoxing because most people engaged in it are migrant workers, and the banning of tinfoil production may lead to unemployment that in turn may destabilize the community," according to local publicity official Sun Jun.
Lying in his hospital bed, Yang said he didn't want to see his workshop closed despite the suffering it brought him because he doesn't want to lose his job.
"I hope the government can enhance awareness about the harm of lead through education, so people won't hurt themselves out of ignorance," he said.
Yang also hopes the government can regulate the industry in order to protect workers like him.
Sun agreed that the industry needs regulation and standardization.
