China govt barricades river to contain chem spill

10 June 2008 05:31  [Source: ICIS news]

SINGAPORE (ICIS news)--Chinese government officials in Baise city, Guangxi province, are constructing a barricade on Zhesang river to contain the pollutants following a spill from a truck transporting phenol, as per local media reports on Tuesday.

Rescuers were also releasing lime and active carbon into the water to neutralise the effect and to absorb the chemicals, local sources added.

The truck, which was carrying 33.6 tonnes of phenol, overturned and spilled crude phenol into the Zhesang river, which supplies water for drinking to Baise city.

The contamination had threatened the drinking water of more than 200,000 residents, and the city government had ordered more than 1,000 households in Yangyu to stop using water from the upper reaches of the dam.

Phenol is used in the production of plastics, resins and pharmaceuticals. In its diluted form, the chemical can also serve as an antiseptic or disinfectant.

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By: Serene Cheong
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