A gigantic explosion and fire ball engulfed a chemical factory that is, among other things, a significant producer of precursors to chlorpyrifos, an insecticide widely used in American agriculture as well as in pet collars, but that has come under significant challenge in the United States.
The explosion occurred May 27 at a site owned by Shandong Youdao Chemical in Gaomi city, Shandong province, according to the South China Post. It killed at least five people with a further six still missing, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported. Cell phone videos purporting to show it may be found on YouTube and other sites.
The cause is yet to be determined and an investigation is underway.
China has been the leading global producer of chlorpyrifos, with production capacity increasing from 5,000 tons in 2005 to nearly 150,000 tons in 2016. Although production has declined in recent years due to regulatory measures, it remains above 100,000 tons.
American agriculture once applied between 5 million to 8 million pounds of chlorpyrifos a year on crops including soybeans, corn, almonds and oranges, to control a variety of insect pests. The Environmental Protection Agency has taken steps to reduce and restrict its use in recent years, including proposing a rule to revoke most food uses, which has been challenged in court.
David Murray can be reached at [email protected].
