China's environment authorities to screen chemical hazards

BEIJING - China will launch an environment safety inspection over industries involving chemicals and other dangerous substances, the Ministry of Environmental Protection announced on Sunday.

Vice Minister Pan Yue said the inspection from late Oct to early Nov will cover ports and industries such as petrochemical, chemical, and nonferrous metal industries in 16 provincial localities.

Inspectors will look into whether chemical industry parks and ports have undergone environment assessment, and whether new environmental hazards emerge.

Inspectors will also examine the management and disposal of dangerous waste.

On Aug 12, two blasts ripped through a warehouse in Tianjin Port, where large amounts of toxic chemicals were stored, including around 700 tonnes of sodium cyanide. Death toll from the blasts exceed 160.