In China's first lawsuit of a child killed by toxic fumes from indoor decoration materials, the court has awarded the plaintiff a compensation of 170,000 yuan (US$21,250).

 

The 4-year-old girl, daughter of plaintiff, a man surnamed Lin, was diagnosed with acute leukemia and died in August 2005 after living for 10 months in the newly decorated apartment in Fuzhou, capital city of east China's Fujian Province, a local court said.

 

She had shown symptoms of high fever and coughing since June 2005, the court said.

 

Tests made by the local environmental watchdog showed that the amount of formaldehyde in Lin's home one year after the decoration was completed was still four times higher than the national safe level. Formaldehyde is a highly toxic component of decoration materials.

 

Pollutants in paint and other building materials can cause blood diseases, and formaldehyde has been identified as a major factor in leukemia and other cancers.

 

Lin contracted with an indoor decoration company and a flooring company to refurbish his new apartment in May 2004 and moved to the new home in late August that year. The two companies were both ordered to pay compensation.

 

Song Guangsheng, director of the China Indoor Environment Test Center, said the ruling was a significant benchmark for future cases.

 

(Shanghai Daily August 15, 2006)