AP Photo/Jaroslav Pap
READ MORE ABOUT:
Here are the frightening details, courtesy of HowStuffWorks.com: "On Jan. 30, 2000, the dam restraining contaminated water from a gold mining operation in Romania broke. The 26 million gallons of polluted liquid and waste contained 55 tons to 110 tons of cyanide and various other heavy metals. The spill traveled through the rivers of Romania, Hungary and Yugoslavia, eventually reaching the major waterway of the Danube River. Both Hungary and Yugoslavia observed massive amounts of dead fish killed by the toxic metals. Hungary reported 1,367 tons of them." The dam was located in the Romanian town of Baia Mare.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, cyanide—the primary toxin in the Baia Mare disaster—is "a rapidly acting, potentially deadly chemical that can exist in various forms" like a colorless gas or crystal form. The National Pollutant Inventory explains that cyanides present "high acute (short-term) toxicity to aquatic life, birds, and animals" and have "high chronic (long-term) toxicity to aquatic life." In addition, most cyanide compounds are water-soluble and can contaminate ground water.
For more health related news and information check out:
Planet Green Health
Discovery Health
-
- {}
