Xinhua reported that China Ministry of Environmental Protection recently urged local government agencies to step up checks on heavy metals industries and punish those companies illegally discharging pollutants.

Mr Tao Detian a spokesperson with the ministry made the remarks at a news conference in Beijing, while issuing a list of 19 companies penalized for causing heavy metals pollution.

The list came as a result of nationwide inspections by the ministry on companies with heavy metals emissions.

Mr Tao said the listed companies, besides being fined for causing pollution had to improve their waste disposal systems to meet environment standards within a specified period. He said that eight smelting companies in the tin ore mine area of Lengshuijiang city, Hunan province, were found causing excessive sulfur dioxide emissions.

Eight other companies from different provinces were involved in environmental protection rules violations, excessive waste emissions or inappropriate disposal of dangerous waste.

(Sourced from Xinhua)