Chemical leak poisons water supply in central China, sickening at least 26 people

February 2008

U.S. Water News Online

BEIJING -- Sulfuric acid leaked into the water supply from a chemical factory in central China, poisoning at least 26 villagers, authorities said.

An underground pipe broke at the factory -- part of the Xiaoping coal mine complex in Banqiao town in Hunan province's Chenxi county -- causing the chemical leak into groundwater supplies, said Yang Changyou of the Chenxi information office.

"There are 26 people seriously poisoned and hospitalized, and more than 200 villagers are receiving free medical checkups, but no one died in the accident," Yang said.

The government was providing free bottled water and water from four fire engines, he said, adding that authorities were trying to track and contain the leak.

Some of the most polluted cities in the world are in China, where many rivers and lakes are toxic after decades of breakneck industrial and economic growth. The State Environmental Protection Administration says about a quarter of all the water in China's seven main river systems is too toxic for human contact.

A man who answered a call to the Chenxi County People's Hospital said the hospital "was packed with poisoned villagers, most of them are suffering vomiting, swollen faces and other symptoms." He then hung up, saying he was "too busy." He didn't give his name.

The factory, which was not listed in the phone directory, could not be immediately reached for comment. It was not clear if the factory and mine are private or state owned.

A 50-year-old construction worker in Banqiao said many residents were fleeing their villages because the chemical leak had polluted the water and air, and that only elderly people remained.

The man, surnamed Li, said villagers were suffering from bloated stomachs, swollen faces and itching skin. Li did not want to give his full name because he feared retribution by the local government.

According to the Beijing News, the local environment protection bureau launched an investigation into possible water supply pollution after a retired coal miner in the area complained his drinking water had turned yellow. The paper said as many as 1,000 people have been poisoned, but the claim could not be verified.

The initial investigation found the water was safe to drink, but 10 days later villagers living near the factory fell sick, the newspaper said. A second investigation found arsenic and tin and other metals in the water supply, it said.

Chinese regulators have difficulty enforcing environmental rules because local leaders are reluctant to take steps that might hurt industry or reduce jobs and tax revenues. Local environmental protection bureaus often report to their local governments.

China's priority is developing the economy, the recent rapid growth of which has lifted millions out of poverty. Nevertheless, Beijing has started to show greater willingness to clean up the environment after a series of high-profile cases.

A chemical plant spewed tons of toxic nitrobenzene and other chemicals into northern China's Songhua River in 2005, forcing authorities to temporarily halt supplies of running water to millions of people.

Last year, a lead-zinc spill in a river in the same province forced a one-day cut in water supplies to more than 200,000 people. Also, blue-green algae polluted eastern China's Lake Taihu, which provides drinking water for millions.

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