Phenol leakage pollutes water source in east China

08 February 2012 03:33  [Source: ICIS news]

SINGAPORE (ICIS)--A phenol leakage has polluted waters in China’s Zhenjiang City though the contamination found in tap water is less than the level considered dangerous for human consumption, Zhenjiang government said on its website late on Tuesday.

According to current testing data, content of phenol in tap water in Zhenjiang was between 0.001-0.132mg/L, which is not harmful to human body, the government said.

The minimum content of phenol in water that can harm human body is 3.5mg/L, according to the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The phenol pollution took place in between 2 February to 3 February according to current investigation, but the exact source of contamination was not clear though a cargo ship moored in Zhenjiang was a suspect, the government said.

Local residents in Zhenjiang had discovered a peculiar smell in tap water since 3 February but the local water company initially thought it could have been because of over chlorination.

Zhenjiang is located in Yangtze River Delta, which belongs to Jiangsu province in east China.

By: Rachel Yang

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