Toxic hot spots in Europe

Toxic hot spots in Europe

Central and eastern Europe could be polluted again by toxic mine wastes, following several spills of cyanide and heavy metals spills from Romanian mines in recent months.

A "Rivers of Life, Rivers of Death" conference was held on April 3-4 in Budapest, involving delegates from scientific, governmental and environmental groups. Delegates to the conference, which was organised by the Central European University, reported that other major environmental accidents in central and eastern Europe are probable.

According to the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River, there are 114 industrial and mining "hot spots" in the Danube River basin which could result in major environmental accidents. Romania heads the list with 53 hot spots. Yugoslavia has the second greatest number, with nine.

According to Andreas Bernstoff of Greenpeace International, "The open storage of toxic sludge in lagoons, held back by flimsy dams and embankments, even on steep slopes, is practiced by the mining industry worldwide and increasingly in poor countries. This is variant of eco-colonialism, extracting valuable raw materials and leaving toxic waste behind."

BY JIM GREEN

From GLW issue 401