8 held after children found with abnormal blood lead levels

Eight people have been detained in Gansu province after more than 200 children of a kindergarten were found to have abnormal levels of lead in their blood, local officials and police said on Tuesday.

The detained include the principal and investor of Peixin Kindergarten, a privately run institution based in Maiji district in the city of Tianshui, which was set up in 2022 and enrolls 251 children. Two other people accused in the incident have been released on bail pending trial, according to a joint investigation report.

On July 1, the market supervision administration and the public security bureau of Maiji received a report about the abnormal blood lead levels of some children enrolled in the kindergarten. The two departments immediately launched a probe, and a joint investigation team comprising officials from seven relevant departments was formed.