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When MEP released soil risk screening levels at the beginning of the year, lead was absent from the contaminants covered. We responded with comments pointing out the need for a lead screening level given the scope of lead contamination in China and the risks to China's children from lead exposure. Our efforts were rewarded on August 21 when MEP re-proposed its risk screening levels, this time including lead. Lead was only one of two pollutants added from the earlier proposal, and the proposed screening levels were the only values based on an international standard. This was a major achievement for the protection of China's environment and children from lead exposure. At least half of the 4,400 priority heavy metal contaminated sites identified in China are contaminated with lead. The proposed Soil Pollution Law would provide an appropriate statutory context for determining contamination levels and a liability scheme requiring polluters to take action. At sites where the 400 ppm lead level is exceeded, the exposure risks to children will be evaluated and hopefully remediated.