Phenol Container Damaged and Leaked at Busan Port, South Korea

The Busan Maritime and Fisheries Bureau in South Korea reported a hazardous chemical leak at the New Port Terminal. A container carrying imported industrial phenol fell and ruptured during loading operations, resulting in the spill of approximately 1.2 metric tons of high-concentration phenol solution. Part of the spill flowed through drainage channels into the coastal waters near the port area. Phenol is highly toxic and tends to accumulate in living organisms; it can directly cause acute poisoning and death in fish, shrimp, and shellfish. The harmful substance can also be transmitted through the food chain, posing a risk to human health.