Plant explosion: Toxic chemicals in the air decline

Toxic chemicals in the air were now dissipating after the massive plant explosion in Yancheng, Jiangsu province, on Thursday afternoon, according to the provincial environmental protection authority on Friday.

Jiangsu Provincial Department of Ecology and Environment said sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides in the atmospheric environment were dispersing and the concentration is moving downward, and other pollutants, including benzene, toluene and xylene, were now at normal level.

There were no drinking water sources downstream of the explosion site and drinking water safety was not affected, it added.

The authorities will continue to work with local governments to control the wastewater, strengthen monitoring of surrounding environment, and release environmental quality information to the public.