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Nine ministries on Monday launched a year-long campaign to rein in illegal lead-acid battery makers in the wake of a string of heavy-metal pollution scandals.

In a village near Taizhou city in coastal Zhejiang province, 138 people have been found to have excessive lead levels in their blood because of pollution from a nearby battery plant.

"The plant is virtually in the neighborhood, because the plan to relocate the residents was never implemented," said Zhang Lijun, vice-minister of environmental protection, adding that such illegal practices are quite common in the lead-acid battery industry.

Most of the small and medium-sized battery makers failed to run their pollution treatment facilities regularly, nor did they treat hazardous wastes properly, said Zhang, citing the latest inspections of 388 battery plants in 11 provinces the ministry conducted this month.

As well, most plants don't follow the rules about keeping a safe distance from residents, Zhang said.

Every year, the Ministry of Environmental Protection, the National Development and Reform Commission, and other related government departments carry out a campaign to tackle illegal polluting enterprises.

However, Zhang said that 110 out of the 388 battery makers were left out in last year's inspection, suggesting that scrutiny is far from thorough.

All provinces are required to release to the media a list of lead-acid battery makers, assemblers and recyclers by the end of July for public scrutiny, said Zhang. Any plants violating environmental regulations will be closed down.

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（中国日报网英语点津 Helen 编辑）

Todd Balazovic is a reporter for the Metro Section of China Daily. Born in Mineapolis Minnesota in the US, he graduated from Central Michigan University and has worked for the China Daily for one year.