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Press
Releases - 2000
Styrene
spillage unlikely to cause further environmental impact
The test
results of water samples show that the spillage of styrene
yesterday in Yuen Long is unlikely to cause any further significant
impact on the environment, a spokesman for the Environmental
Protection Department (EPD) said today (Sunday).
Water
samples were collected in the vicinity of the incident and
Deep Bay last night and early this morning.
The spokesman
said: "The test results of the samples collected last night
showed that the levels of the chemical were very low.
"No physical
signs of the chemical were spotted nor any odour of it detected
during the follow-up inspection by the EPD staff early this
morning.
"The
test results of the water samples collected this morning confirmed
that the water in the vicinity contained only a trace amount
of the chemical."
Styrene
belongs to Dangerous Goods Category 5 Class 2. It is only
slightly soluble in water and evaporates quickly. Once exposed
to air, it degrades and polymerises easily at room temperature
and becomes rather inert.
The EPD
and its chemical waste collection contractor attended the
scene to assist in the clean up operation yesterday.
The EPD
will examine the evidence in hand to consider whether legal
action would be taken under environmental laws against the
parties responsible for the spillage.
End/Sunday,
February 6, 2000
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