Toxic leaks near cities
By Li Xinran |
October 26, 2010, Tuesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
MORE than half a million tons of hazardous chromium residue has piled up near six cities in Henan Province over the years, gradually contaminated farmland and groundwater.
One of the huge "fortresses," with 50,000 tons of the toxic chemical sealed inside, was built in Henan's Gongyi City and has stood there for 20 years, the Dahe Daily said yesterday.
The chromium residue is a by-product that came from manufacturing processes at a local chemical plant, which was shut down in 1992, according to the newspaper based in Henan's capital Zhengzhou City.
The plant built the "fortress" in 1990, which was surrounded by a high wall and had a cement base to stop contamination leaks.
However, it is not the biggest in Henan as a similar one in Yima City contains 325,000 tons, or 67 percent, of the total chromium.
Most of the stockpiles in Henan are still leaking hexavalent chromium, a chemical compound that increases the risk of lung cancer or kidney failure, the report said.
As well as the chromium near cities, 200,000 square kilometers of farmland, or one fifth of the national total, has been contaminated by the chemical and caused annual grain losses of more than 10 million tons, the report added.
One of the huge "fortresses," with 50,000 tons of the toxic chemical sealed inside, was built in Henan's Gongyi City and has stood there for 20 years, the Dahe Daily said yesterday.
The chromium residue is a by-product that came from manufacturing processes at a local chemical plant, which was shut down in 1992, according to the newspaper based in Henan's capital Zhengzhou City.
The plant built the "fortress" in 1990, which was surrounded by a high wall and had a cement base to stop contamination leaks.
However, it is not the biggest in Henan as a similar one in Yima City contains 325,000 tons, or 67 percent, of the total chromium.
Most of the stockpiles in Henan are still leaking hexavalent chromium, a chemical compound that increases the risk of lung cancer or kidney failure, the report said.
As well as the chromium near cities, 200,000 square kilometers of farmland, or one fifth of the national total, has been contaminated by the chemical and caused annual grain losses of more than 10 million tons, the report added.
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