Transparency best way to quell pollution concerns

It is now clear that on Nov 4, 69.1 metric tons of the petroleum derivative C9 - rather than 6.97 tons as previously reported - leaked into the sea off Quanzhou, the most populous city in Fujian province.

The local government announced the results of the official investigation on Sunday, three weeks after the leak of the chemical that is toxic to humans and has already sickened more than 50 people and affected 20 hectares of aquatic farms, causing millions of yuan in economic loss.

The authorities said on Sunday that Fujian Donggang Petrochemical Industry had deliberately concealed and forged evidence to hide the true extent of the leak and some local officials had failed to play their supervisory role. Seven people have been detained.