A 52-year-old woman in Hangzhou, capital of eastern Zhejiang province, died Sunday after being exposed to hydrofluoric acid discarded in an abandoned lot now frequented by locals growing vegetables, triggering nationwide debate over how China regulates hazardous chemicals.

On Thursday, local police announced that the plastic containers containing the acid had been left behind by the son of a man who lived on the plot of land before moving out in 2015, when the chemicals were abandoned. The son had worked as a wall cleaner.

Police confirmed that three white square plastic barrels of hydrofluoric acid were left at the site. The woman accidentally stepped into one of the barrels while planting vegetables with two friends. Authorities said the individuals involved have now been brought into custody, and the case is under further investigation.

Hydrofluoric acid, commonly known in Chinese as huagu shui, or “bone-dissolving water,” is highly toxic, capable of dissolving metal, glass, and silicon. Experts warn that exposure to even small amounts can cause cardiac arrest, convulsions, and organ damage. It is widely used in industries such as semiconductors, electronics, glass, and metal processing.

According to domestic media, the woman’s family posted online that she was turned away by two hospitals due to the severity of her condition before being diagnosed with hydrofluoric acid poisoning at a third.

A doctor from The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine told domestic media that the victim was admitted in critical condition with multiple organ failure and severe electrolyte imbalance. Despite emergency treatment, she died on September 14th.

By Wednesday, discussions around the incident had surpassed 10 million views on microblogging platform Weibo.

Hydrofluoric acid requires a special handling permit under Chinese law, which also bans unauthorized dumping. Yet the chemical remains widely available online. 

A recent report by Shanghai-based news outlet The Paper found that online platforms were selling hydrofluoric acid solutions for as little as 8 yuan ($1), some having sold thousands of units. 

Listings often marketed the chemical for household uses — from removing glass stains to etching ceramics — while offering only minimal safety guidance, such as “wear gloves” or “rinse with water if contact occurs.” Some sellers add disclaimers stating that buyers are assumed to have “common knowledge and chemical handling experience.”

By Wednesday, Sixth Tone found that many listings on Taobao, one of China’s largest e-commerce platforms, had been removed. However, at least one seller was still offering 0.5% hydrofluoric acid solution for 95 yuan without listing safety warnings. 

The incident comes just days after China released a draft of a law on hazardous chemical management, soliciting public feedback. The law proposes stronger safety measures for toxic chemicals, including electronic labeling and monitoring of hazardous chemicals throughout their usage and disposal.

The public comment period for the draft law is open through Oct. 11. 

Editor: Marianne Gunnarsson.

(Header image: Prapass Pulsub/Getty Creative/VCG)