Watched Toxic sludge no longer poses threat to Danube, says Hungary

Toxic sludge no longer poses threat to Danube, says Hungary


DANIEL McLAUGHLIN

SLUDGE RELEASED by a deadly industrial accident is no longer a danger to the river Danube, according to Hungary.

However, environmental groups have challenged that claim and questioned whether the disaster could have been prevented.

Some 700,000 cubic metres of toxic mud burst from a waste pool at an alumina plant in southwest Hungary on Monday, devastating nearby villages and about 40sq km and killing all life in the river Marcal, which flows into the Danube.

One of about 120 people injured by the wave of caustic filth died yesterday and two bodies were found, bringing the death toll to seven. One person is still missing.

Workers poured tonnes of neutralising agents into the Marcal to reduce the acidity before it reached Europe’s second longest river. Although dead fish were spotted in the Danube on Thursday, officials said yesterday that the emergency was easing.

“The good news is that we have succeeded in bringing it under control and very probably waters threatening the environment will not enter the Danube, even on Hungarian territory,” said prime minister Viktor Orban.

The government said drinking water supplies had not been affected and that the acidity level of the Danube near the site of the spill was almost neutral.
Coppied by http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/2010/1009/1224280699449.html

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

Exited Hungary toxic sludge spill reaches Danube

Hungary toxic sludge spill reaches Danube


HUNGARY'S toxic sludge spill, which has killed four people, reached the Danube river today, threatening to contaminate the waterway's ecosystem, a water authority official said.

Water alkalinity, a measure of river contamination, was already above normal in the major waterway, the official said.

Samples taken at the confluence of the Raab river and the Danube showed "alkalinity slightly above nornal, around 8.96 per cent to 9.07 per cent'', against a normal tally of eight per cent, the source said.

A wave of toxic mud was unleashed on Monday from the reservoir of an aluminium plant at Ajka, 160km west of Budapest.

The red mud travelled down the Raab river and reached the Danube waters at around 0630 GMT (1730 AEDT) at Gyor.

The industrial accident triggered by the collapse of walls at the factory reservoir on Monday has been described as an ecological disaster and is now threatening the entire ecosystem of the Danube, Europe's second longest river.
Coppied by http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/breaking-news/hungary-toxic-sludge-spill-reaches-danube/story-e6freuyi-1225935614622

Watches this Hungary toxic sludge spill reaches Danube

Hungary toxic sludge spill reaches Danube
HUNGARY'S toxic sludge spill, which has killed four people, reached the Danube river today, threatening to contaminate the waterway's ecosystem, a water authority official said.


Water alkalinity, a measure of river contamination, was already above normal in the major waterway, the official said.

Samples taken at the confluence of the Raab river and the Danube showed "alkalinity slightly above nornal, around 8.96 per cent to 9.07 per cent'', against a normal tally of eight per cent, the source said.

A wave of toxic mud was unleashed on Monday from the reservoir of an aluminium plant at Ajka, 160km west of Budapest.

The red mud travelled down the Raab river and reached the Danube waters at around 0630 GMT (1730 AEDT) at Gyor.

The industrial accident triggered by the collapse of walls at the factory reservoir on Monday has been described as an ecological disaster and is now threatening the entire ecosystem of the Danube, Europe's second longest river.
coppied by http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/breaking-news/hungary-toxic-sludge-spill-reaches-danube/story-e6freuyi-1225935614622