What killed tons of fish in European river? Thriller deepens
WARSAW, Poland — Laboratory assessments subsequent a mass die-off of fish in the Oder River detected substantial levels of salinity but no mercury poisoning its waters, Poland’s setting minister claimed Saturday as the mystery continued as to what killed tons of fish in Central Europe.
Anna Moskwa, the minister of weather and atmosphere, stated analyses of river samples taken in each Poland and Germany uncovered elevated salt ranges. Thorough toxicology studies are even now underway in Poland, she reported.
She explained Poland’s state veterinary authority tested 7 species of the lifeless fish and dominated out mercury as the result in of the die-off but was nevertheless waiting around for effects of other substances. She said exam results from Germany had also not revealed a significant presence of mercury.
The Oder River operates from Czechia to the border among Poland and Germany prior to flowing into the Baltic Sea. Some German media had proposed that the river have been be poisoned with mercury.
Polish Key Minister Mateusz Morawiecki explained Friday that “huge quantities of chemical waste” have been likely dumped deliberately into his country’s next-longest river, producing environmental injury so serious it would acquire a long time for the waterway to get well.
On Saturday, Morawiecki vowed to do every little thing possible to restrict the environmental devastation. Poland’s inside minister reported a reward of 1 million zlotys ($220,000) would be paid to any person who helps keep track of down all those liable for polluting the river.
Authorities in the northeastern German point out of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania warned people today not to fish or use drinking water from the Szczecin lagoon, as the river’s contaminated water was expected to reach the estuary place on Saturday evening.
“The extent of the fish die-off is shocking. This is a blow to the Oder as a waterway of wonderful ecological worth, from which it will presumably not get better for a long time,” stated Alex Vogel, the surroundings minister for Germany’s Brandenburg state, along which the river runs.
The head of Polish waters, Poland’s countrywide water administration authority, stated Thursday that 10 tons of lifeless fish experienced been taken off from the river. Hundreds of volunteers ended up performing to enable acquire lifeless fish along the German aspect.
German laboratories claimed they detected “atypical” stages of “salts” that could be connected to the die-off but would not completely make clear them on their personal.
Morawiecki acknowledged that some Polish officers had been “sluggish” in reacting following massive quantities of lifeless fish ended up viewed floating and washing ashore, and mentioned two of them ended up dismissed.
“For me, however, the most critical matter is to deal with this ecological disaster as before long as achievable, because nature is our frequent heritage,” Morawiecki mentioned.
His comments had been echoed by Schwedt Mayor Annekathrin Hoppe, whose German town is positioned following to the Decreased Oder Valley National Park. She termed the contamination of the river “an environmental disaster of unprecedented scale” for the area.
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WARSAW, Poland — Laboratory assessments subsequent a mass die-off of fish in the Oder River detected substantial levels of salinity but no mercury poisoning its waters, Poland’s setting minister claimed Saturday as the mystery continued as to what killed tons of fish in Central Europe.
Anna Moskwa, the minister of weather and atmosphere, stated analyses of river samples taken in each Poland and Germany uncovered elevated salt ranges. Thorough toxicology studies are even now underway in Poland, she reported.
She explained Poland’s state veterinary authority tested 7 species of the lifeless fish and dominated out mercury as the result in of the die-off but was nevertheless waiting around for effects of other substances. She said exam results from Germany had also not revealed a significant presence of mercury.
The Oder River operates from Czechia to the border among Poland and Germany prior to flowing into the Baltic Sea. Some German media had proposed that the river have been be poisoned with mercury.
Polish Key Minister Mateusz Morawiecki explained Friday that “huge quantities of chemical waste” have been likely dumped deliberately into his country’s next-longest river, producing environmental injury so serious it would acquire a long time for the waterway to get well.
On Saturday, Morawiecki vowed to do every little thing possible to restrict the environmental devastation. Poland’s inside minister reported a reward of 1 million zlotys ($220,000) would be paid to any person who helps keep track of down all those liable for polluting the river.
Authorities in the northeastern German point out of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania warned people today not to fish or use drinking water from the Szczecin lagoon, as the river’s contaminated water was expected to reach the estuary place on Saturday evening.
“The extent of the fish die-off is shocking. This is a blow to the Oder as a waterway of wonderful ecological worth, from which it will presumably not get better for a long time,” stated Alex Vogel, the surroundings minister for Germany’s Brandenburg state, along which the river runs.
The head of Polish waters, Poland’s countrywide water administration authority, stated Thursday that 10 tons of lifeless fish experienced been taken off from the river. Hundreds of volunteers ended up performing to enable acquire lifeless fish along the German aspect.
German laboratories claimed they detected “atypical” stages of “salts” that could be connected to the die-off but would not completely make clear them on their personal.
Morawiecki acknowledged that some Polish officers had been “sluggish” in reacting following massive quantities of lifeless fish ended up viewed floating and washing ashore, and mentioned two of them ended up dismissed.
“For me, however, the most critical matter is to deal with this ecological disaster as before long as achievable, because nature is our frequent heritage,” Morawiecki mentioned.
His comments had been echoed by Schwedt Mayor Annekathrin Hoppe, whose German town is positioned following to the Decreased Oder Valley National Park. She termed the contamination of the river “an environmental disaster of unprecedented scale” for the area.
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Stick to all AP tales connected to the environment at https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-surroundings.