China probes South Korea ship for toxic spill
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E-mail China.org.cn, February 10, 2012
A foreign cargo ship is under investigation over a chemical spill that partially contaminated the drinking water source of a city in east Jiangsu Province, officials said Thursday.
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Panicked residents in Zhenjiang are stockpiling bottled water from supermarkets. |
The government of Zhenjiang city Tuesday confirmed that on February 3, phenol levels collected in water samples were excessive, and the pollution caused tap water in some parts of the city to emit a pungent smell, sending panicked residents to stockpile bottled water from supermarkets.
The authorities "highly suspect" that a South Korea cargo ship that had docked at Zhenjiang spilled the chemical when a valve was not properly closed.
The departments of maritime affairs, environmental protection and border quarantine are involved in the probe.
Phenol, also known as carbolic acid, is an organic compound that can irritate eyes and skin. Soluble in water, if absorbed in large amounts it can damage the liver and kidneys.
(Xinhua contributed to this story.)
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