The city government of Shanghai, the largest economic hub of eastern China, has recently required all vehicles transporting dangerous and toxic materials to be equipped with GPS (global positioning system) devices, in its latest bid to intensify control over such chemicals.

Official statistics show that there are now in Shanghai more than 6,000 businesses handling dangerous chemicals. Over 43 million tons of dangerous chemicals in 3,000-odd varieties enter and depart Shanghai annually.

In March this year, a chemical leak was reported in Sanlin Town of Pudong, fortunately with no casualties. Two months later, a road accident at an entrance of Shanghai's outer ring road caused hydrochloric acid to pour from a tank truck.

With the fast development of the heavy chemical industry on theYangtze River Delta, on which Shanghai perches, experts say, the city will expose itself to higher risks in dangerous chemicals transport.

To tighten control over the transportation of dangerous chemicals, Shanghai has also decided to overhaul all of the 286 professional transport enterprises in the city and phase out small transport businesses without security guarantee.

(Xinhua News Agency October 24, 2005)