Battery-tainted fertilizer marks latest China food scandal

 GUANGZHOU, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- Fertilizer contaminated with used batteries and other toxic¹ waste has resulted in another food safety scandal in China, the latest in a long string of such incidents.

Jiang Xicheng, chairman of the environmental protection arm of the Guangdong Lion's Club, a charity organization, broke the news on the Internet, alleging² that farmers in a suburban³ area of the southern city of Guangzhou made fertilizer out of fermented⁴ garbage that contained used batteries, shattered glass and kitchen waste.

"I was shocked. The heavy metal content of the fertilizer must exceed safety levels," he said. "It poses a severe threat to human health."

Zhou Yongzhang, deputy director of the Department of Earth Sciences at Sun Yat-sen University, said the used batteries could severely⁵ contaminate vegetables with lead and mercury.

He added that if farmers rotate their soil often, the contamination could get worse.

Media reports on the case have aroused anger from netizens.

"We have big supervisory departments, but their ability to function is seriously in doubt," wrote a blogger with the screenname "ruyigongzi."

A farmer from Guangzhou surnamed Zeng said it is common practice for local farmers to use garbage as fertilizer to nourish vegetables planted in infertile⁶ fields.

So common is the practice that garbage collectors transport carts of waste specifically to sell to local farmers.

"(The tainted⁷ fertilizer) is cheap but efficient," Zeng said.

Zhu Lijia, a professor with the Chinese Academy of Governance, said government supervisors⁸ are to blame.

"The farmers do share some responsibility, but if the government was strictly⁹ supervising them, such things wouldn't have happened," he said.

The scale of contamination, as well as how much tainted produce has reached the market, is not yet clear.

Guangdong authorities said they are investigating the situation.

The Chinese public has become increasingly concerned over food safety after a slew¹⁰ of scares -- from melamine-tainted baby formula products to pork contaminated with clenbuterol -- exposed the vulnerability of the country's food sector¹¹ in recent years.

Authorities handled 15,000 food safety cases and shut down 5,700 unlicensed businesses during inspections¹² conducted across China in the first half of the year, according to the State Administration for Industry and Commerce.

The State Council issued a statement in July stating that it will make efforts to establish a better regulation mechanism¹³, an improved legal and standard system and technical support for food safety and improve the food industry's overall performance in the area over the next five years.

1 toxic   

adj.有毒的，因中毒引起的

参考例句：

• The factory had accidentally released a quantity of toxic waste into the sea.这家工厂意外泄漏大量有毒废物到海中。
• There is a risk that toxic chemicals might be blasted into the atmosphere.爆炸后有毒化学物质可能会进入大气层。

2 alleging   

断言，宣称，辩解( allege的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• His reputation was blemished by a newspaper article alleging he'd evaded his taxes. 由于报上一篇文章声称他曾逃税，他的名誉受到损害。
• This our Peeress declined as unnecessary, alleging that her cousin Thornhill's recommendation would be sufficient. 那位贵人不肯，还说不必，只要有她老表唐希尔保荐就够了。

3 suburban   

adj.城郊的，在郊区的

参考例句：

• Suburban shopping centers were springing up all over America. 效区的商业中心在美国如雨后春笋般地兴起。
• There's a lot of good things about suburban living.郊区生活是有许多优点。

4 fermented   

v.（使）发酵( ferment的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）激动；骚动；骚扰

参考例句：

• When wine is fermented, it gives off gas. 酒发酵时发出气泡。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• His speeches fermented trouble among the workers. 他的演讲在工人中引起骚动。 来自辞典例句

5 severely   

adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地

参考例句：

• He was severely criticized and removed from his post.他受到了严厉的批评并且被撤了职。
• He is severely put down for his careless work.他因工作上的粗心大意而受到了严厉的批评。

6 infertile   

adj.不孕的；不肥沃的，贫瘠的

参考例句：

• Plants can't grow well in the infertile land.在贫瘠的土地上庄稼长不好。
• Nobody is willing to till this infertile land.这块薄田没有人愿意耕种。

7 tainted   

adj.腐坏的；污染的；沾污的；感染的v.使变质( taint的过去式和过去分词 )；使污染；败坏；被污染，腐坏，败坏

参考例句：

• The administration was tainted with scandal. 丑闻使得政府声名狼藉。
• He was considered tainted by association with the corrupt regime. 他因与腐败政府有牵连而名誉受损。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 supervisors   

n.监督者，管理者( supervisor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• I think the best technical people make the best supervisors. 我认为最好的技术人员可以成为最好的管理人员。 来自辞典例句
• Even the foremen or first-level supervisors have a staffing responsibility. 甚至领班或第一线的监督人员也有任用的责任。 来自辞典例句

9 strictly   

adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地

参考例句：

• His doctor is dieting him strictly.他的医生严格规定他的饮食。
• The guests were seated strictly in order of precedence.客人严格按照地位高低就座。

10 slew   

v.（使）旋转；n.大量，许多

参考例句：

• He slewed the car against the side of the building.他的车滑到了大楼的一侧，抵住了。
• They dealt with a slew of other issues.他们处理了大量的其他问题。

11 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

12 inspections   

n.检查( inspection的名词复数 )；检验；视察；检阅

参考例句：

• Regular inspections are carried out at the prison. 经常有人来视察这座监狱。
• Government inspections ensure a high degree of uniformity in the standard of service. 政府检查确保了在服务标准方面的高度一致。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 mechanism   

n.机械装置；机构，结构

参考例句：

• The bones and muscles are parts of the mechanism of the body.骨骼和肌肉是人体的组成部件。
• The mechanism of the machine is very complicated.这台机器的结构是非常复杂的。