Fears over China cadmium spill

Armed police prepare to dump neutralizers, made from dissolved aluminum chloride, at a water station near the Longjiang River to dissolve the contaminants in Liuzhou of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Jan. 30, 2012. (Photo=Xinhua)

Chinese authorities are erecting barrages and pouring tons of chloride into a river in southern China in a desperate effort to prevent a toxic cadmium spill from further tainting water supplies of a major city.

Cadmium was discharged into the Liu River in early January and the flow of cadmium has continued in spite of several containment operations. Now it threatens residents of Liuzhou, a city of 3.2 million in Southwest China’s Guangxi province, leading up to panic buying of bottled water.

Cadmium used to make batteries is a known carcinogen which can also damage kidneys and the lungs. At Nuomintan dam, cadmium level is eight times higher than normal and the Chinese authorities have warned locals not to drink from affected stretches of the river.

The source of the cadmium spill is still being investigated. According to China Business News, the Guangzi Jinhe Mining Co. was initially reported to be the suspected main cause of the contamination because its waste disposal continually failed to meet government standards despite repeated citations.

Apart from the mining company, other possible suspects companies have been temporarily shut down. The authorities say no new toxins are entering the water and drinking supplies in Liuzhou will not be affected.

Zhang Jian, the spokesman of the Liuzhou government said, “I promise citizens that we will cut off water. When they turn the tap, the water will be safe to drink.” He explained that the city was able to treat the water safely as long as cadmium levels were within twice the national standard.

If not, he added that the government was prepared to tap substantial underground supplies owned by a nearby railway. Meanwhile, China has set a goal of reducing pollution by lead, mercury, chromium, cadmium and arsenic by 15 per cent of 2007 levels by 2015.