On May 21, many students at a school in the southeastern Chinese city of Wenzhou began to suffer from coughing, fevers, and bloody noses. Five days later, at an elementary school in Beijing, ten students experienced similar symptoms as pungent chemical odors emanated from the school’s running track.
The running tracks at both schools are recent constructions, made with substandard synthetic materials 12 years ago despite the warnings of experts. But a combination of poor regulations and commercial interests drowned out concerns of safety and environment.
Parents of students attending the Nanshan Elementary School at the Beijing Normal University protesting in front of Meiliang Elementary School, asking the school to stop class for fear of toxic running tracks. via Netease
