Abandoned Industrial Chemicals Lead to Fatal Poisoning in Eastern China
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A woman’s death from accidental contact with abandoned hydrofluoric acid has led to the detention of two individuals, Chinese authorities said, in a case that highlights the dangers of improperly discarded industrial chemicals.
The Public Security Bureau in Hangzhou’s Yuhang district said in a statement on Sept. 18 that two men have been taken into custody in connection with the incident. The hydrofluoric acid, used for cleaning exterior building walls, had been abandoned in 2015, police said.
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- A woman in Hangzhou died after accidental exposure to abandoned hydrofluoric acid; two men were detained in connection.
- The chemical was left in plastic containers at a demolished site since 2015, used previously for cleaning building exteriors.
- Hydrofluoric acid is highly corrosive, with delayed symptoms; it can cause severe internal damage and is potentially fatal.
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What Happened When
- Between 2013 and 2015：
- A man surnamed Ai lived in a one-story house at the site, and his son used hydrofluoric acid for cleaning building exteriors.
- 2015：
- Three containers of hydrofluoric acid were abandoned at the site when the family of Ai moved away.
- Morning of Sept. 9, 2025：
- The victim stepped on the abandoned chemical while walking, suffered hydrofluoric acid poisoning, and later died.
- Sept. 18, 2025：
- The Public Security Bureau in Hangzhou’s Yuhang district announced that two men were taken into custody in connection with the incident.
- As of 2025：
- The case remains under police investigation.
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