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Shocking amounts of sodium cyanide stored in China's explosive city, Tianjin

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Is this what caused the prolonged explosion?

The Tianjin explosion death toll rose to more than a hundred, and has been linked to high amounts of illegal sodium cyanide stored at the site, according to police reports. According to Chinese officials, the toxic explosion, last Wednesday, may be caused by large amounts of the chemical discovered at the source of blast, with some now speculating that the owner of the warehouse was illegally transporting the chemicals. News reports on Saturday explain that evacuees from the area are staying at schools after the tragedy in the port.

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Highlights

By Talia Ramos (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
Catholic Online (https://www.catholic.org)
8/17/2015 (8 years ago)

Published in Asia Pacific

Keywords: Tianjin, China, Explosion, Chemical, Illegal, Death toll, Sodium Cyanide, Rui Hai International Logistics, Calcium Carbide, Toxic

MUNTINLUPA, PHILIPPINES (Catholic Online) - Initial reports state that panic among the people was intensified after officials refused to determine what the chemicals were stored at the explosion site and whether these materials are stored following standards.

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The explosion blasts registered on the Richter scale, suggesting that the force was strong and visible in space. Hundreds of families within the area panicked and ran outside their homes after fearing there were massive earthquakes at Tianjin.

However, the explosion was believed to have released a chemical called toluene diisocyanate, which was stored at the site and can penetrate the skin and is poisonous.

Yet after massive cleanup operations, officials found sodium cyanide about 70 percent more than the permitted amount allowed to storage. The warehouse is owned by Rui Hai International Logistics, who is now speculated to have been illegally transporting the chemicals.

Another concern is the possibility of deadly mix of calcium carbide with the potential rain, producing a toxic airborne gas.

"The other danger rain poses is that chemicals stored in warehouse could be washed into water supplies, with a potentially large impact on local ecosystems. However, again, without more specific information it is difficult to say what impacts exactly," said Eric Liu of Greenpeace East Asia.

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