Rice Wholesaler Knew About Cadmium Contamination Since 2002; Hunan Rice Markets Collapse

[hatrack]

EDIT

The problem was apparently detected in 2002 by a major Guangdong wholesaler, Shenzhen Cereals Group (SZCG), according to Chen Jian, business manager of the Changsha Grain Depot run by China Grain Reserves Corp., also called Sinograin. He recently told the Nanfang Daily newspaper that SZCG officials' knowledge of Hunan's cadmium problem dated to their 2002 cooperation agreement with his company.

For business reasons, Chen said, SZCG chose to ignore the problem for seven years through a stable period for rice prices. But in August 2009, and shortly after newly harvested crops of Hunan rice had filled SZCG warehouses, the market caught wind of the contamination issue, pushing rice prices down sharply. SZCG had purchased batches of seven varieties of Hunan-grown rice, altogether 15,415 tons, in 2009. While the grain was being shipped from Sinograin's Hunan facilities to Shenzhen, state media reported that cadmium poisoning had sickened hundreds of people and killed two in villages near the Hunan city of Liuyang.

Less dramatic but equally serious that year were results from a Nanjing Agricultural University study that found about 10 percent of all rice grown and sold in China had failed to meet government standards for cadmium. Shaken by the Liuyang report and fearing a market backlash, SZCG sent samples of its recently delivered Hunan rice to the Shenzhen Municipal Quality Inspection Research Institute. Tests found excessive levels cadmium.

Company officials scrambled to salvage their investment. Indeed, Chen said if not for a contract adjustment with Sinograin, SZCG would have lost more than 10 million yuan on some 100,000 tons of Hunan rice in its stocks.

EDIT

http://english.caixin.com/2013-06-05/100537850.html

[phantom power]

1. "You should, in no way, take any of this personally. It's just business."

"So to recap, I come in peace, I mean you no harm, and you all will die. Gallaxhar out. "

[CanonRay]

2. When you knowingly poison someone, and they die, isn't that murder?

Oh, I forgot, corporations can't kill because they are not people. Wait a minute....

[wtmusic]

3. Where could all that cadmium be coming from??

Cadmium: The Dark Side of Thin-Film?

http://gigaom.com/2008/09/25/cadmium-the-dark-side-of-thin-film/

[hatrack]

4. Not necessarily - Japan recorded cadmium poisoning outbreaks in Toyama starting in 1912

Lots of mining and industrial processes that could have accounted for the contamination.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Itai-itai_disease

[eppur_se_muova]

6. Often a contaminant in runoff from zinc mining and processing ...

there are traces of cadmium in zinc ores, as well as in some phosphate fertilizers, which results in agricultural contamination. Coal ash is also a significant source of cadmium.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cadmium#Occurrence

Oh, and if you read the article:

...officials say has over the years leached from Hunan mines, mine tailings and chemical factories into area waterways, mainly the mighty Xiang River and its tributaries.

Water from contaminated rivers, lakes and streams is typically diverted into the region's rice paddies, where the metals settle in calm water, tainting soil and crops alike.

[CreekDog]

7. there was no cadmium pollution before solar panels of course

thank you for informing us, in order to undermine solar and pump up nuclear.

so reliable you are at that.

[hunter]

5. If it was a radioactive toxin, oh my, this thread would be active too.

But toxins with a half-life of essentially forever get a "meh."

[Nihil]

8. Isn't that a damning indictment of the evils of greed?

> For business reasons, Chen said, SZCG chose to ignore the problem for seven years

> cadmium poisoning had sickened hundreds of people and killed two in villages near the Hunan city of Liuyang.

> For business reasons, Chen said, SZCG chose to ignore the problem for seven years

> about 10 percent of all rice grown and sold in China had failed to meet government standards for cadmium.

> For business reasons, Chen said, SZCG chose to ignore the problem for seven years

> Shaken by the Liuyang report and fearing a market backlash, SZCG sent samples of its recently
> delivered Hunan rice to the Shenzhen Municipal Quality Inspection Research Institute.

> For business reasons, Chen said, SZCG chose to ignore the problem for seven years

> Tests found excessive levels (of) cadmium.

> For business reasons, Chen said, SZCG chose to ignore the problem for seven years