Cargo Business Newswire

Thursday, August 20, 2015

Alarming levels of sodium cyanide found in Tianjin blast area

Potentially dangerous levels of sodium cyanide have been found at wastewater monitoring stations in the port city of Tianjin almost five days after a series of fatal explosions claimed at least 114 lives and triggered intense criticism of the Chinese government.

Bao Jingling, the chief engineer from Tianjin’s environmental protection bureau, said excessive levels of the toxic chemical had been detected in surface wastewater at the blast site. The highest levels detected were 27 times acceptable limits.

Exposure to sodium cyanide, a white powder with a

variety of industrial uses, can be "rapidly fatal," according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

He Shushan, Tianjin’s deputy mayor, said "all sodium cyanide within 3km of the blast zone would be collected and neutralized before Monday evening."

China’s Prime Minister Li Keqiang vowed to identify and punish those responsible for the tragedy.

For more of The Guardian story: www.theguardian.com