Flying high
SHEN Zejiang still feels a little regret over giving up his pilot's career to be president of China Eastern Airlines Co Ltd (CEA).
Kids learn od city's culture
"SOCIETY is the largest and most effective classroom," said Zheng Hong, a painting teacher at Shanghai German School.
More control spraying of termite nests downtown
FOUR more termite nests have been found along Nanjing Road since the first was discovered in a tree on the street's pedestrian section two weeks ago. One of the nests is located in a well-known fashion store on the road.
A toast to queen's health
THE British Consulate-General held a large reception on Thursday at Regal International East Asia Hotel to celebrate the birthday of Queen Elizabeth II.
JV insurers get diplomas at Fudan
TWENTY-TWO marketing professionals from AXA-Minmetals Assurance Co - the first Sino-French insurance joint venture - received their diplomas on Sunday from local Fudan University in a Fudan-AXA-Minmetals training and development programme.
Better air quality reported
SHANGHAI'S air quality turned for the better last week from the previous week, according to a report from the Shanghai Environmental Monitoring Centre.
Drugs hit female, young
MORE female and juvenile addicts were found among the increasing number of drug-consumers, according to the result of a survey conducted recently by the city of 300 registered drug addicts.
Erotic dancers caught in act
A MAN was recently arrested for organizing obscene dance performances to attract customers to a club, according to Jinshan District Procuratorate.
$12,000 still unclaimed
BAOSHAN District police are still looking for the owner of over 100,000 yuan ($12,000) found on a road in the district nearly two months ago.
Police seize thief wanted by Japan
THE last of two Shanghai residentswanted by Japanese police for involvement in a series of thefts in Japan
Whiter than white at the tooth wash
YOU will read elsewhere of a sparkling new service about to close in on Shanghai - a teeth cleaning laundry.
Likely end to two-way charges on cell phones
DESPITE the massive popularity of mobile phones in China, the world's second largest market for cell phones, many users bemoan the high charges they incur through the two-way billing system.
Film stars light way for future women
WOMEN knew their place in China at the beginning of the 20th century.
Survey finds lead in teas
By Jane Tian
LOCAL tea drinkers are warned to be careful about what they drink because some teas have been found to contain excessive levels of lead and pesticide. The Shanghai Technical Supervision Bureau has examined 61 types of teas including four scented, 42 green and 15 oolong and found nearly one-third of them have a purity problem. The results showed some are above the national standard which requires 1 kilogram of tea contain no more than 2 milligrams of lead and less than 0.2 milligram of pesticides. The sample teas came from the East China provinces of Zhejiang, Anhui, Fujian, Southwest China's Guizhou, Central China's Henan and South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. But the contaminated teas were mainly from Zhejiang and Fujian provinces, China's two major tea producers, the survey found. Thirteen teas which contain excessive lead include "Dragon Well" tea produced in Hangzhou, which has been found to be contaminated with an excessive amount of lead. The lead content in top-quality "Dragon Well" tea sold by Shanghai Huangshan Tea Company reached 13.6 milligrams a kilogram, far exceeding international standards. Each kilogram of the second-grade "Dragon Well" tea sold by Wangyiji Tea Company contained 17.9 milligrams of lead. Two teas produced by Zhejiang Hangzhou Lin'an Tea Company and Zhejiang Taishun Kangming Tea Company contained 0.35 and 0.27 milligrams of DDT (dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane) respectively, a highly poisonous pesticide. Medical experts say too much lead in the body will disturb the nervous system, causing sleepiness and a dispirited disposition. Fang Youzong, an inspector from the city's food hygiene bureau, said the blood and teeth can also be affected by the lead and pesticide residues in the tea. The survey indicated tea trees planted too close to traffic-heavy roads or factories which discharge a lot of waste gas or water, are likely to accumulate lead. Lead from waste water discharged by factories will penetrate trees through the soil. Randomly discarded batteries are also to blame for badly polluted soil in tea plantations. Habitual tea drinkers should be cautious when choosing teas though the volume of lead or pesticide dissolved in a cup of tea is unlikely to reach dangerous levels. Cai Jing of Shanghai Tea Import and Export Company said the business of the company has not been affected by the survey and stressed they have reliable sources of tea. "All our products have to pass lawful commodity inspection supervised by the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences being sold," Cai said. She said to assure the quality, suppliers to the company are not allowed to use pesticide on their tea plantations. "It is crucial to the exports of our country," she said. "Short-sighted planters' reckless usage of pesticide has undermined the nation's leading position as a major tea producer." Tea traders have been issued with official warnings not to bring unqualified products into the city.
Copyright 2000 by Shanghai Star. All rights reserved.