Multiple failures created toxic school tracks

By Liu Zhun Source:Global Times Published: 2016/6/25 0:03:01

Illustration: Peter C. Espina/GT

From melamine-tainted milk to yogurt made from old leather shoes, the exposure of public-health scandals in China has greatly lowered public trust. Recently, toxic running tracks have made headlines.

Multiple media outlets have revealed that synthetic tracks in some schools are a new source of threat to public health, especially to students. Students in more than seven cities across the country were reported to be suffering a litany of ailments such as nosebleeds, headache and nausea after inhaling pungent odor their campuses gave off. Parents demanded the facilities be tested and found out that the toxic substances in the synthetic tracks are way higher than the permitted level.

Anger gripped Chinese parents. In Beijing No.2 Experimental School's Baiyunlu campus, whose running tracks have been found to be poisonous, parents of the students demanded a test of the entire school environment by a third party, finding out that their kids had been exposed to excessive formaldehyde in classrooms.

However, for years, according to media reports, many unscrupulous producers of low-quality synthetic tracks were never punished or even investigated by local authorities. There was also a lack of strict and extensive standards to control the level of toxic substances in school facilities.

After the exposures, some local authorities still tried to cover up or tone down these cases. Some of the test reports of the toxic substances have been widely questioned by the public, especially the parents of the victims.

Thus, it is hard to say who is most responsible for this threat to our children's health. It seems that they have all played a major part in the stunning scandal.

The role of the toxic track manufacturers reflects the sad fact that underneath China's glittering economic achievements, a lack of business ethics and legal awareness is still a prominent problem. For schools, their acquisition of low-quality facilities is an irresponsible act that ignores the safety of students. The deals, even when there's a supposed bidding process, may be sealed under the table. And the authorities have been guilty of dereliction of duty in allowing these dishonest producers to stay active. The authorities' clumsy PR work, notorious for finding excuses and weaseling out instead of being honest and offering solutions, is escalating a problem into a crisis.

But the good news is that the local authorities have been forced into taking action. Beijing ordered a complete test of synthetic tracks in the capital, and Shenzhen torn up an athletic track in November after tests showed toxic chemical levels 140 times higher than permitted level.

But the situation is still tense and complicated, because the victims and the authorities will probably have more disagreements over the severity of the toxic substances.

These toxic running tracks will fall out of the public eye sooner or later, but the lessons must be drawn by the authorities.

As the middle class is expanding in China, they are no longer fulfilled by being fed and dressed. They want badly to live safe, dignified, respectable lives. The authorities must understand that more social conflicts might occur if they cannot meet the needs of the middle class. The authorities are suffering a crisis of diminishing public trust. They should act before it's too late.

The author is a Global Times editor. liuzhun@globaltimes.com.cn



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