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Greenpeace: Red Sludge Contains High Levels of Heavy Metals
Friday 08 Octtber 2010 Zoom in | Print page
Bratislava, October 8 (TASR) - According to biochemist Katarina Ventusova from Greenpeace, an analysis of the red sludge collected in the Hungarian village of Kolontar has proven that it contains extraordinarily high amounts of arsenic and mercury, TASR learned on Friday.
Greenpeace on the same day publicised the results of analyses of water and sludge taken from the Hungarian village, which was hit hardest by Monday's spill from a containment reservoir of an aluminium-oxide plant in Ajka, Hungary. Ventusova said that the level of heavy metals in the samples were surprisingly high.
The concentration of arsenic in particular is approximately twice as high as its usual level in red sludge. In response to this, Greenpeace calls on the Hungarian Government to inform the public about all the possible negative effects of heavy metals on the environment and health, and to monitor the affected areas in detail, preparing a comprehensive decontamination plan.
Ventusova took the samples in Kolontar 24 hours after the containment reservoir was breached and when the sludge floodwave had already receded. The affected village was covered with a layer of gunge, and the sewage system still contained contaminated water. Greenpeace took its samples at the time when rescue work was continuing, with the samples being tested independently in Hungary and in Austria.
The results of the samples tested in Austria have shown that the sludge in Kolontar contained 110 milligrams per kilogram of arsenic, 1.3 milligrams per kilogram of mercury and 660 milligrams per kilogram of chrome. "In view of the amount of spilled red sludge this could mean that up to 50 tonnes of arsenic has been leaked into the environment," stated Greenpeace.
"We were interested in the main possible sources of contamination of the affected area. We expected to find heavy metals, but the level of arsenic and mercury are surprising. Toxic contamination of this scale could represent a long-term risk for human health, for drinking-water sources and for local eco-systems," stated Ventusova.
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