Blast 'may reignite chemical worries'

An explosion at a factory in Fujian province that injured at least 19 people could trigger new fears about chemical projects, according to an expert.

The blast was caused when oil leaked and caught fire at three storage tanks at the plant, which produces paraxylene, or PX, an industrial chemical used mainly to manufacture polyester.

Paraxylene poses a health risk because of its flammability and toxicity.