Re: Scientists: Harbin clean-up "will take years"; Communists: It's a "delight"

"Benzene can pass into air from water and soil surfaces. Once in the
air, benzene reacts with other chemicals and breaks down within a few
days. Benzene in the air can attach to rain or snow and be carried back
down to the ground. Benzene in water and soil breaks down more slowly.
Benzene is slightly soluble in water and can pass through the soil into
underground water. Benzene in the environment does not build up in
plants or animals."

"Benzene is moderately soluble in water; 1 to 1,000 mg will dissolve in
a liter of water. Benzene is slightly persistent in water, with a
half-life of between 2 to 20 days. Because of its high volatility,
approximately 99.5% of benzene ends up in air; the rest will dissolve
in the water."

http://www.e-b-i.net/ebi/contaminants/benzene.html


demorising@xxxxxxx wrote:
> Harbin river clean-up 'will take years'
>
> http://news.ft.com/cms/s/c74629d8-607c-11da-a3a6-0000779e2340.html
>
> Gu Jidong, a Harbin native now a professor of environmental toxicology
> at the University of Hong Kong, said the pollution from such an
> accident would occur in two phases.
>
> "It is not as simple as saying that the chemicals have now passed the
> city and the water is now safe," he said. "The local government is
> talking about the first stage, but not about the second stage." It
> would take three to five years before the pollution was degraded, Prof
> Gu said.
>
> ----------
>
> http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2005/11/29/2003282201
>
> Safety concerns mar Harbin government's `delight' over the resumption
> of water supply
>
> But yesterday, coverage was effusively upbeat, with newspaper photos
> showing smiling children in Harbin running their taps and water surging
> through treatment plants.
>
> State television in Heilongjiang Province broadcast a variety show
> celebrating the return of water. Young women in jade-green costumes
> danced with empty 40-liter water bottles on their shoulders. A comedian
> played with a giant squirt gun.
>
> Premier Wen Jiabao (溫家寶) has promised to investigate the disaster
> and punish officials responsible. But state media also have been
> portraying efforts to keep this major industrial city supplied with
> drinking water as a triumph of the communist system.

.

Relevant Pages