Yunnan plant dumped toxic dregs for two decades
A Yunnan chemical plant was exposed for disposing more than 280,000 tonnes of uncontained toxic chromium residue near the source of the Pearl River, dating back about two decades and causing health risks to millions of Guangdong residents.
Last week, the Yunnan Information Daily reported that two drivers from the plant were detained after allegedly dumping more than 5,000 tonnes of chromium dregs into reservoirs two months ago, resulting in 300,000 cubic metres of toxic water being discharged into the Nanpan River in Qujing, Yunnan, the source of the Pearl River, which supplies drinking water for many cities in Guangdong.
Zuo Guorong, assistant to the general manager of Yunnan Luliang Chemical Industry, admitted to the China News Service that 288,400 tonnes of chromium dregs were dumped and buried under soil by previous plant operators between 1989 and 2003.
Doctors say the intake of chromium may increase the risk of lung cancer and cause genetic disorders.
The report said the chemical plant was ordered to build a retaining wall to prevent the toxic dregs from being washed into the Nanpan River by rainwater, and to do a clean-up.
The Qujing government said yesterday that the plant had dumped only 148,000 tonnes of toxic dregs, which would be relocated.
Li Li, a researcher from the Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, warned that the chromium residue, which is a known carcinogen, could pollute the Nanpan and Pearl rivers during flooding.
'It's a huge environmental risk to store toxic dregs next to the Nanpan River,' she told China Central Television, saying that the plant had violated the Ministry of Environmental Protection's safety requirements on storing dangerous residue.
China News Service reported that Xinglong village near the chemical plant has developed a cancer problem, with six or seven villagers dying of it every year. Villagers exposed the illegal dumping after 77 head of livestock drank polluted water and died.
However, Guangdong officials insisted that no contamination was detected in the Pearl River.
Official figures suggest the nation produces about 40 per cent of the world's chromium, which has resulted in significant pollution.
