A large number of bottles of ethanol discovered at a man's home in Yingxiong Village on February 10.

A man has been detained for storing 8 tons of ethanol at his home, fire authorities said on Wednesday.

The fire brigade of Huinan Town in the Pudong New Area raided the man’s home in Yingxiong Village on Monday after tipoffsand seized ethanol stored in a large number of plastic bottles.

The man was found to have purchased the ethanol from out of town and intended to sell it to health-conscious people during the novel coronavirus pneumonia epidemic.

Ethanol can be used as a disinfectant.

Fire authorities say dangerous chemicals such as ethanol are required to be stored in professional facilities for safety reasons.

Ethanol needs to be stored in professional facilities for safety reasons, fire authorities said.

Bottles of ethanol found at a house in the Pudong New Area.