Songhua River Polution and Control in Harbin,China in Harbin,China Dr. Wang Binyou Dr. Wang BinyouProfessor Dept. of Epidemiology Dept. of Epidemiology Harbin Medical University Harbin Medical

Background A massive chemical plant explosion took place in northeast China ‘ s Jilin province on Nov. 13,2005 ， and caused major contamination of the 1897 km Songhua River. Background A massive chemical plant explosion took place in northeast China ‘ s Jilin province on Nov. 13,2005 ， and caused major contamination of the 1897 km Songhua River.

About 100 tons of dangerous chemicals benzene, nitrobenzene and other toxics to 10 tanker truck loads was spewed into the river, which supplies water to Harbin.

Harbin is a China's biggest cities, capital of Heilongjiang province. Harbin is a China's biggest cities, capital of Heilongjiang province.

Harbin is home to nine million people, including three million urban residents. Contaminating water supplies for up to four million people. Harbin is home to nine million people, including three million urban residents. Contaminating water supplies for up to four million people.

*The Songhua River is a tributary of the Heilong River on the border between the Russian Far East and China.

Control measures

1,The government has launched an emergency plan to tackle the situation and for water supplies to be restored.

2, Supplies were cut off due to pollution of the Songhua River.

3, High school and Primary schools were closed. 3, High school and Primary schools were closed.

4 ， Hundreds of villagers have been evacuated from their homes along a river in northeast China after an explosion at a petrochemical plant upstream dumped 100 tons of toxic chemicals in the water

5, Most of the citizens have stored enough water.

6 ， Government have got purified water from other cities to ensure water supply in the city. 6 ， Government have got purified water from other cities to ensure water supply in the city.

7, Harbin Supply & Drain Co. LTD have Cleaned up all the water tankers, replaced the old filtering devices with new ones and put in active carbon to purify the water.

8, Two reservoirs upstream discharged an unusually huge amount of water into the river to dilute the toxic spill. 8, Two reservoirs upstream discharged an unusually huge amount of water into the river to dilute the toxic spill.

9, The social environment of city was peace. About 10,000 policemen patrolled the city's streets.

Most residents continued to work and shops and restaurants remained open despite water supply being cut off. Most residents continued to work and shops and restaurants remained open despite water supply being cut off.

10, Local hospitals had stockpiled antidotes to benzene-related poisoning. The province Governor ordered hospitals to brace for possible cases of poisoning, while dozens of wells were dug.

11, Taught residents to recognize the symptoms of benzene poisoning, and gave them some advice.

12, All the city's wells were in operation, and have drilled 45 more wells to supply water for the heating system in Harbin, where winter temperatures can fall below -20C. 12, All the city's wells were in operation, and have drilled 45 more wells to supply water for the heating system in Harbin, where winter temperatures can fall below -20 o C.

13, The EPA enhanced monitoring and predict of the contaminated water.

14, Suggested the pollution level would drop significantly by the time it enters Russia ， and reported the water monitoring result to Russia.