Sulfur dioxide leak sickens villagers
By Li Xinran |
May 10, 2010, Monday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
OPERATIONS at a sulfuric acid manufacturer in Yunnan Province have been suspended after dozens of locals fell sick following a poisonous gas leak last Friday.
Twenty of the 90 villagers have been hospitalized after the leak was discharged, while none is in a life-threatening condition, Yunnan's news Website Yunnan.cn reported yesterday.
Dense black smoke covered Taipingshao Village in Luliang County early Friday.
Villagers began coughing, vomiting and blacking out, the report said.
The leak occurred at the Hongtaibo Chemical Co plant in Luliang's Damogu Town.
A pump that was meant to remove sulfur dioxide and sulfur trioxide from emissions had corroded, allowing the poisonous gases to escape, said Wang Honghua, chief of Luliang's environment watchdog.
According to Wang, construction of the plant started in September 2008 and it started operating last October.
"It is now in trial operation and the major product is sulfuric acid for industry usage," Wang said. He said it was an accident, excluding any deliberate sabotage.
Wang indicated the county environment bureau had suspended the company's operations and the next step was to check the plant's equipment.
However, the company defended itself, saying none of its more than 100 workers in the factory was poisoned.
Qian Jiyong, a deputy general manager, said that the plant stopped emissions half an hour after learning of the leakage.
Qian admitted there was some pungent odor but emphasized villagers were living far away from the factory.
Meanwhile, Luliang County People's Hospital confirmed villagers had symptoms of toxic gas inhalation.
The hospital had prepaid their medical expenses itself, said its Vice President Qiang Guqiao.
Local villagers said they had an old grievance with the company and attempted to block access to the factory after the spread of the toxic gas as they had done several times before.
Villagers said they were forced to sell the land use rights to the company by village cadres, according to the Website report.
Twenty of the 90 villagers have been hospitalized after the leak was discharged, while none is in a life-threatening condition, Yunnan's news Website Yunnan.cn reported yesterday.
Dense black smoke covered Taipingshao Village in Luliang County early Friday.
Villagers began coughing, vomiting and blacking out, the report said.
The leak occurred at the Hongtaibo Chemical Co plant in Luliang's Damogu Town.
A pump that was meant to remove sulfur dioxide and sulfur trioxide from emissions had corroded, allowing the poisonous gases to escape, said Wang Honghua, chief of Luliang's environment watchdog.
According to Wang, construction of the plant started in September 2008 and it started operating last October.
"It is now in trial operation and the major product is sulfuric acid for industry usage," Wang said. He said it was an accident, excluding any deliberate sabotage.
Wang indicated the county environment bureau had suspended the company's operations and the next step was to check the plant's equipment.
However, the company defended itself, saying none of its more than 100 workers in the factory was poisoned.
Qian Jiyong, a deputy general manager, said that the plant stopped emissions half an hour after learning of the leakage.
Qian admitted there was some pungent odor but emphasized villagers were living far away from the factory.
Meanwhile, Luliang County People's Hospital confirmed villagers had symptoms of toxic gas inhalation.
The hospital had prepaid their medical expenses itself, said its Vice President Qiang Guqiao.
Local villagers said they had an old grievance with the company and attempted to block access to the factory after the spread of the toxic gas as they had done several times before.
Villagers said they were forced to sell the land use rights to the company by village cadres, according to the Website report.
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