Enjoy Toxic sludge reaches Danube

Toxic sludge reaches Danube

ELIZABETH JACKSON: Toxic red sludge from a spill at an industrial plant in Hungary has reached the Danube, Europe's second longest river.

Officials from several nations along the Danube downstream from Hungary are now testing the river every few hours to monitor the effects.

They're hoping the river's huge water volume will minimise the impact of the spill.

Lindy Kerin reports.

LINDY KERIN: Today authorities' fears have been realised with the ochre coloured toxic sludge reaching the Danube.

The Hungarian rescue agency says the toxic mud has been diluted and is unlikely to cause as much damage as initially thought.

But Balazs Tomory from Greenpeace says it's still dangerous.

BALAZS TOMORY: They tried several materials like Gypsum, like chemical fertilisers and also some acid which was quite risky. But they did it in a small quantity and they mixed water with the polluted water and it seems properly so it could reduce the alkaline behaviour of the toxic sludge.

It's now 10 on the pH level which is better than it was. It was 12, 12 and a half. But still it's dangerous for the environment.

LINDY KERIN: Philip Weller is executive director of the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube.

He told the Radio National Breakfast program that while there's been significant efforts to minimise the toxicity of the sludge the Danube will need to be closely monitored for some time.

PHILIP WELLER: It is clear that it is not going to have the kinds of dramatic health effects that could have had been the case in the Danube because of the dilution effects that were perhaps anticipated or potentially anticipated at the outset.

And the Hungarian authorities have done a significant amount of work to try to minimise that.
Coppied by http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2010/s3032897.htm