Abnormal High Levels of Nickel in a River Section in Hunan Result in Cross-City Pollution

The announcement issued by the government of Yongxing County, Chenzhou, Hunan Province, indicates that recent data from the automatic monitoring station for surface water at the Dahe Beach cross-city section of the Leishui Chenzhou-Hengyang River shows abnormal thallium concentration, causing cross-city pollution and threatening downstream drinking water safety. Local residents have been discussing this matter in recent days.

Thallium is a odorless metal that mostly exists in dispersed form in the sulfide ores of lead, zinc, iron, copper, and other metals. Thallium can enter the human body through water, food, and respiration. Its compounds can lead to the occurrence of various diseases such as esophageal cancer, liver cancer, and colon cancer.

In recent years, there have been several cases of thallium poisoning exposed. The public discusses the change in thallium color, considering this toxicity as a chemical substance no less harmful than arsenic, a “murderous weapon.”

On the evening of March 22, local residents reported to the media that the announcement issued by the government of Yongxing County, Chenzhou, Hunan Province.

The announcement mentioned that the Yongxing County government decided to initiate a Level IV emergency response to the sudden environmental event in the Leishui Basin (Yongxing section) on March 17 at 0:00.

Public information shows that Leishui is the second largest river in the Hengyang area and the largest and longest tributary of the Xiang River, with a total length of 453 kilometers. Leishui flows through Rucheng County, Zixing City, Suxian District, and Yongxing County of Chenzhou City, as well as Leiyang City, Hengnan County, and Zhu Hui District of Hengyang City before joining the Xiang River.

A villager from Dahe Beach Village at the border of Chenzhou and Hengyang said that in recent days, locals have been discussing the matter, with some people informing him that relevant departments have prohibited villagers from secretly fishing in the Leishui waters. He said, “Some villagers are digging wells and taking water from the Leishui, and their drinking water may be affected recently.” The villager also mentioned that someone informed him that a factory in a nearby county may have discharged problematic wastewater.

On the evening of March 22, a staff member from the government office of Yongxing County confirmed that the announcement issued by the Yongxing County government is true. However, the specific cause of the abnormal thallium concentration is not yet known.

The report stated that multiple calls to the Chenzhou Municipal Ecological Environment Bureau and the Yongxing Sub-bureau public phone numbers went unanswered. Staff members from Chenzhou Municipal Emergency Management Bureau and Government Office stated that they have not responded to this matter.

A duty officer from the Chenzhou City Water Resources Bureau mentioned that the ecological, water resources, and emergency departments in the city are aware of the abnormal thallium concentration at the Leishui section. He stated that they currently do not know the latest situation regarding handling it.

If the abnormal thallium concentration at the Leishui section affects Hengyang City, officials from the city government office said they currently do not have relevant information. The ecological environment department of Hengyang City also did not respond to the media regarding this matter.

Multiple public phone numbers of the Hunan Provincial Department of Ecology and Environment went unanswered.