No toxic substances have been detected in Oder water samples examined so far - Polish Climate Minister Anna Moskwa informed at a press conference on Tuesday evening. She added that three hypotheses were being taken into consideration as regards the cause of the recent mass fish die-off.
At a press conference held on Tuesday (August 16) in Warsaw, Polish Climate Minister Anna Moskwa discussed the latest reports regarding the ecological disaster on Oder River.
"Chief Inspectorate of Environmental Protection (GIOŚ) has examined the samples and none of them showed presence of toxic substances," the minister said.
She added that no pesticides were detected in any of the dead fish species. "Also radioactive isotopes are below the norm, autopsical examinations and histopathology of the fish are being conducted," Moskwa said.
Three hypotheses
The minister said the first hypothesis was a potential release of toxic substances, caused either by companies operating by the river or an illegal release.
The second hypothesis is that the disaster was a result of natural causes: high temperature, low water level and the increased waste concentration. "GIOŚ is examining all circumstances, which confirm high salinity and high temperature," the minister said.
She added that the third scenario assumed a release of huge amounts of industrial wastewater containing plenty of chloride, which could have potentially triggered polution from bottom sediments.
She underscored that it was possible for all three factors to coincide.
Źródło: TVN24 News in English, PAP
Źródło zdjęcia głównego: TVN24