Authorities yesterday ordered the Pudong chemical factory that leaked herbicide, sickening two women, to suspend production.

The chemical leak which put the two women in hospital and caused a flurry of complaints from residents because of the smell wasn't immediately reported to the authorities, officials from Shanghai Environmental Protection Bureau said.

And staff at the factory responsible for Monday's leak even lied to investigators the next day, the bureau said.

The bureau has reported the Shanghai Pesticide Factory to the city government and it will be the subject of further investigations. A special investigation team headed by the local work safety administration was set up on Tuesday.

"It was very irresponsible for the factory to hide the fact from the authorities, which has to spend much manpower and equipment to comb all enterprises and storage spots for chemicals that could result in pollution in Yangpu and Pudong on Monday night and the next day," said Zhang Long of Shanghai Environmental Protection Bureau.

He said its staff arrived at the factory on Tuesday morning to investigate the source of the pungent fumes. "Its staff claimed the factory didn't work on Monday night. They only admitted the truth when our staff went back for more checks after nearby plants said there were traces of manufacturing at the pesticide factory recently," he said.

The bureau has summoned the factory leaders for further investigation at the bureau office today. "There must be a huge penalty while it may take a period of time for investigation and a hearing," Zhang said.

About 300 kilograms of the liquid herbicide Anilofos escaped through a valve because of a "human error" on Monday night. The fumes were spread by the wind from Pudong across the city, causing severe annoyance to many residents, who called the hotlines of environment authorities, the police and the local media to complain.

The two women in Yangpu who were taken to hospital after inhaling the fumes were discharged on Tuesday morning after checks.

An official at Shanghai Pesticide Factory said last night that the environmental protection bureau and other departments were still at the scene. The factory would be cooperating with the government, the official said.

(Shanghai Daily September 18, 2008)