(March 26, 2002) The spring thaw could release more toxins into the water from a chemical explosion last year, the United Nations said in a report, which also criticized China for its slow initial response to the crisis in the Songhua River.

(Excerpt)

Beijing: The spring thaw could release more toxins into the water from a Chinese chemical explosion last year, the United Nations said in a report, adding China should carry out random checks to prevent a recurrence.

An explosion at a chemical plant in northeastern China in November released a poisonous slick which contaminated the drinking supplies of millions of people and raised alarm bells in nearby Russia.

Though water supplies have resumed, the melting ice and snow could cause pollution problems when chemicals thaw, the UN Environment Programme said.

“Great care must be taken in the spring when the ice thaws out,” the UN body said in a report released on Thursday, which followed a trip to northeast China.

“The frozen pollutants in the ice will become liquid and gas and the denser liquid that may have stayed in the bottom layer upstream may become mobile as the water flow increases,” it said.

But the official China Daily on Friday downplayed the chances of a new toxic slick, quoting officials as saying that even if some chemicals were released, the level would not be high enough to force water supplies to be cut off again.

The UNEP said it was ready to help China deal with the aftermath of the accident, and to help stop such disasters from happening in the future.

Reuters, March 26, 2002