Chlorine leak poisons 59 workers in Shanghai
12/3/2007 16:12
A group of 59 workers were poisoned by chlorine leak from a Shanghai
chemical plant early today, the local government said.
The workers were
dismantling an impregnant plant on Nanmatou Road of Pudong District when they
were sickened by a spill of remnant chlorine from some old equipment.
Fire
fighters and workplace safety personnel capped the leak shortly after the
accident was reported at 7:00 a.m., and all the workers were
hospitalized.
Eight workers were seriously poisoned and were under intensive
care, said a source with Shanghai Punan Hospital.
The local work safety
watchdog has started to investigate the accident.
Chlorine is a liquid under
pressure but turns into a gas when released. The toxic fumes can cause
respiratory problems if inhaled.
Xinhua
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