Widespread lead contamination and an inadequate government response has created a public health crisis in four Chinese provinces, according to a newly released report from Human Rights Watch.

The group, which unveiled its report on Wednesday, says vast contamination in Henan, Yunnan, Shaanxi and Hunan provinces has led to a dire emergency health situation and that "despite increasing regulation and sporadic enforcement targeting polluting factories, local authorities are ignoring the urgent and long-term health consequences of a generation of children continuously exposed to life-threatening levels of lead."

Thr group says that despite promises from the highest levels of Chinese government to addressed well-known lead poisoning incidents, government regulators have failed to stem the problem and thousands of children remain at risk of serious consequences. The full report is available online.