'Poisoned' Chinese workers sue

The women worked in nearby battery factories in Guangdong, according to state media.

Three people have reportedly died as a result of the cadmium poisoning, and others have fallen ill.

Vaporised cadmium can cause flu-like symptoms when inhaled, and in extreme cases can damage the kidneys.

Workplace health disputes are common in China, where safety levels are often lax.

'Scam'

The Beijing Youth Daily said the women had launched a lawsuit seeking 250,000 yuan ($32,000) per claimant.

The women have spent the last three years pushing for action from local authorities and three companies based in Guangdong province, according to the newspaper.

But nothing has reportedly been done, despite checks that found many of the women had cadmium levels in their bodies that were 10 times higher than normal.

According to state TV, some battery workers said they were offered payments if they left work voluntarily.

"It was a scam to trick us workers into leaving the factory and so they would not be responsible for anything," the CCTV report quoted one worker as saying.