The people of the Sahecun village in China are currently suffering severe health problems due to dangerously hazardous water. The water pollution has been caused by heavy metal, which is a result of a lead mine that closed down more than ten years ago. Villagers of Sahecun are experiencing dreadfully painful swellings all over their bodies. The heavily polluted water is also causing all kinds of other health problems, including achy bones.<\/p>\n
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Nine years ago, the Chinese government conducted a series of tests. These tests confirmed the soaring rates of poisonous metals in soil and water. They decided a clean up operation was necessary, however the operation was stopped shortly after resulting in the area remaining contaminated. This has proven to be a very big problem for the villagers, one Hyang Guiqiang says he can no longer work due to the swellings caused by the polluted water.<\/p>\n
Guiqiang explained how he \u201cnoticed symptoms at the turn of the century\u201d. He said he felt \u201cweak and listless\u201d, resulting in him being unable to return to work. He described the lumps on his body as \u201cincredibly painful\u201d, and there are times where he \u201ccan\u2019t feel anything at all\u201d. He has had help with the expense to go to the hospital in a nearby city, where he was diagnosed with severe cadmium poisoning, which is as serious as it sounds. Cadmium is a toxic metal, which has a destructive impact on most of the human body\u2019s systems if high levels are ingested.<\/p>\n
Guiqiang\u2019s older brother Hung Fuqlang has developed swellings so bad, they have left him confined to his bed. The pair\u2019s older brother died last year, after spending 10 years bedridden.<\/p>\n
Some of the villagers breed fish. They will continue to do so, however the fish will grow up contaminated because of the poor water quality. According to Guiqiang, they don\u2019t have much choice, because if they don\u2019t breed fish, they \u201cwon\u2019t have anything to eat\u201d.<\/p>\n