Home » Metro » Environment
Sinopec blamed for Pudong pong
By Cai Wenjun |
March 21, 2011, Monday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
ENVIRONMENTAL watchdogs have blamed Sinopec Shanghai Gaoqiao Petrochemical Corp for the pungent fumes that spread through many districts of the city yesterday afternoon.
According to a preliminary investigation, the foul-smelling air coming from Gaoqiao Petrochemical in the Pudong New Area included certain types of sulfide, such as hydrogen sulfide, said Chen Wei, an official of the Shanghai Environmental Protection Bureau. But it shouldn't impact on people's health due to its low density.
Around noon, local police began receiving reports from residents about the smell. By 7pm, they had received 93 calls from residents in 12 districts, including Pudong, Huangpu, Luwan, Jing'an and Xuhui. Calls were still coming in last night.
People living in Pudong New Area were among the first to report the strange odor. Some residents said online they felt discomfort after inhaling the fumes.
Many people worried whether the fumes could be harmful, speculating whether it was related to radiation from Japan or chemicals from local plants.
The Shanghai Health Bureau said it hasn't received any reports of anyone becoming ill and requiring hospital treatment as a result of the fumes.
It is not the first time that pungent fumes have been detected coming from Gaoqiao Petrochemical.
On November 23 last year, there was a gas leak containing toxic ethanethiol there. The smell spread across the city's Pudong New Area and Yangpu and Hongkou districts. The city government later said it was not harmful to people's health.
Earlier, on May 9 last year, two massive explosions and an ensuing fire with towering flames ripped through an oil refinery owned by the company in the Pudong New Area.
According to a preliminary investigation, the foul-smelling air coming from Gaoqiao Petrochemical in the Pudong New Area included certain types of sulfide, such as hydrogen sulfide, said Chen Wei, an official of the Shanghai Environmental Protection Bureau. But it shouldn't impact on people's health due to its low density.
Around noon, local police began receiving reports from residents about the smell. By 7pm, they had received 93 calls from residents in 12 districts, including Pudong, Huangpu, Luwan, Jing'an and Xuhui. Calls were still coming in last night.
People living in Pudong New Area were among the first to report the strange odor. Some residents said online they felt discomfort after inhaling the fumes.
Many people worried whether the fumes could be harmful, speculating whether it was related to radiation from Japan or chemicals from local plants.
The Shanghai Health Bureau said it hasn't received any reports of anyone becoming ill and requiring hospital treatment as a result of the fumes.
It is not the first time that pungent fumes have been detected coming from Gaoqiao Petrochemical.
On November 23 last year, there was a gas leak containing toxic ethanethiol there. The smell spread across the city's Pudong New Area and Yangpu and Hongkou districts. The city government later said it was not harmful to people's health.
Earlier, on May 9 last year, two massive explosions and an ensuing fire with towering flames ripped through an oil refinery owned by the company in the Pudong New Area.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
