Drug giant accused of toxic emissions

The mainland's biggest antibiotics producer, in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, has been polluting its neighbourhood with poisonous gas and wastewater since the 1950s, according to a China Central Television report yesterday.

The level of hydrogen sulphide gas discharged by the general factory of Harbin Pharmaceutical Group was found to be 1,150 times the legal limit in its densely populated neighbourhood - which includes residential compounds, universities and hospitals - the report said. It cited an investigation done two years ago by the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference of Heilongjiang province. The company is one of the world's biggest manufacturers of antibiotics.

The consultation group reported its findings but no action was taken, CCTV said.

Hydrogen sulphide is classified by the US Department of Labour's Occupational Safety and Health Administration as 'extremely hazardous'. The gas smells of rotten eggs, and in moderate concentrations it can cause respiratory irritation such as coughing, headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, staggering and excitability. With high doses, one can quickly lose consciousness and die.

People living near the factory told the state broadcaster that they had been suffering ill effects from the pollution for decades.

The factory was also found to have discharged highly polluted, if not entirely untreated, wastewater into a creek that flows through downtown Harbin, according to the report.

The factory's water-treatment facility was idle, and some workers reportedly told CCTV's undercover investigative crew that the necessary devices had been broken for more than a month.