Operation of a smelting plant blamed for the lead poisoning of more than 300 children has been suspended in Northwest China.

He Hongnian, deputy head of Fengxiang county in Shaanxi province, said the environmental protection bureau in Baoji ordered the closure of the plant on Aug 6, about two weeks after the first lead poisoning case was reported.

Environmental protection officials in Shaanxi province have collected samples of groundwater, soil, air and sewage at 28 monitoring points near the Dongling Lead and Zinc Smelting Co.