 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Toxin Level In Chinese River Still Unsafe
Beijing (AFP) Jan 11, 2006 Levels of a cancer-causing chemical found in a Chinese river are still above safety standards after a spill last week, despite earlier official reassurances, state media reported Wednesday. After nearly a week of clean-up efforts, the amount of cadmium is threatening the safety of drinking water in the downstream regions of the Xiangjiang river in Hunan province, the China Daily reported. Qu Lili, deputy head of the environmental bureau of Xiangtan city, insisted that tap water for the city of Xiangtan, a city of 700,000 inhabitants, was safe. "Our tap water has remained clean due to emergency chemical treatment," Qu was quoted as saying. But a southwestern Chinese newspaper, Huaxi Dushi Bao, reported on its website Wednesday that pollution as of Sunday at the local water supply source at Xiawangang was still 22 to 40 times above safe levels. Water samples taken at three local water-treatment plants were also above safe levels as of Sunday, it said, despite assurances by authorities that day that the quality of water was within safety limits. Officials earlier said they had blocked off the spill and neutralised the cadmium slick with chemicals and diluted it by releasing water from a dam. They had insisted that residents were not in danger. "The water being supplied by the water treatment plants is still up to standard," an officer surnamed Zhou at the Changsha city government's office told AFP Sunday. The Xiangtan city environmental bureau was not immediately available for comment Wednesday. The accident occurred when a botched silt clean-up operation allowed industrial chemical cadmium, which can cause neurological disorders and cancer, to flood out of a smelting works and into the river.
Source: Agence France-Presse Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links SpaceDaily Search SpaceDaily Subscribe To SpaceDaily Express Our Polluted World and Cleaning It Up
Water Safe In China Despite Toxic Spills
Beijing (AFP) Jan 09, 2006Water supplies for millions of residents will remain safe despite two new toxic spills into rivers in China, officials said Monday, as authorities worked to dilute the chemical slicks. |
|
|
| The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2006 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA PortalReports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additionalcopyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement |
