Tianjin officials said the dead fish were caused by regular seasonal low oxygen levels in the water and were not related to the blasts.
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The immediate surroundings of the blast site have been closed off, and Tian noted that tests of water outside that area showed that cyanide levels were normal. A few hours later, researchers said no toxic levels of cyanide were found in water samples. The chemical was reportedly detected at six of the 16 test points outside the alert area, all of which was within the permissible limits.
At least 114 people were killed when a series of explosions ripped through a portside warehouse containing hazardous materials on August 12.
“I understand that many companies are facing difficulties at the moment and they might think of moving out, but I believe that the difficulties will be temporary and risks can be solved”, he said.
So far, 200 tonnes of sodium cyanide has been collected and removed from the site, said Wang Hongjiang, vice mayor of Tianjin, adding that the team will soon focus on processing metallic sodium and magnesium.
Sodium cyanide, a compound used in gold mining, can be toxic to humans even in small quantities. One testing site at the mouth of a rain water pipe recorded cyanide levels 277 times above acceptable standards. “We won’t drain it until we clean it up”.
Zhang Yunli, the head of the port city’s marine fisheries association, told the newspaper that the mass fish deaths could’ve been the result of a change in water’s salinity, which happens annually.
And these toxic chemicals are now creating potential environmental hazards for the city and are a source of deep concern for local residents.
Four new fires broke out on Friday in the devastation left by giant explosions in the Chinese port city of Tianjin last week, state media reported, as clean-up efforts continued.
That second explosion was picked up by satellites orbiting Earth, and a Chinese site, Cnbeta, published photos online of the sudden flare that appeared.
Nationwide inspections of facilities handling risky chemicals and explosives were ordered by China’s State Council after the blasts last week.
Tianjin: Large numbers of dead fish have washed ashore in Tianjin, causing fresh public alarm over the extent of environmental contamination after last week’s deadly chemical-fuelled explosions.
New fires are happening at the blast site, which is scattered with smouldering chemicals and flammable substances.
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Ruihai worldwide Logistics acquired the license to store and transport unsafe chemicals in June, Zong Guoying, a senior top official of Tianjin Binhai New Area, told China Daily on Thursday.
