45% of China's chemical and petrochem plants pose serious environmental risks

13-Jul-06

An environmental risk survey of 7,555 chemical and petrochemical plants in China showed that 45% posed to be sources of "grave environmental risks". 81% of the total were located along rivers or densely populated areas. The Chinese government has spent billions of yuan to clean up the country's rivers, but analysts have warned of more impending problems. The best solution to these risks caused by the unreasonable layouts of factories in the past decades would be by intensifying environmental protection preventive measures and upgrading industry structures.