Faulty fire-extinguisher poisons China library-goers

BEIJING, July 22 (Reuters) Thirty-nine people reading or working at a library in southwest China have been poisoned after breathing in carbon dioxide leaking from a fire-extinguisher, state media said.

The leak occurred on the third floor of the Yunnan provincial library building in Kunming where more than 600 people were reading or working, Xinhua news agency said yesterday.

''Thirty nine people, including 10 readers and 29 staff, felt sick and weak in their limbs,'' Xinhua said. ''Some young people even fainted.'' Eight of the readers were school children. The victims were treated in hospital and were out of danger.

Carbon dioxide, commonly used in fire extinguishers, is an asphyxiate at high levels.

REUTERS SG RK0910