Introduction
As it is known, during the night January 30/31, 2000 the dam of flotation dump site in the gold mine "Aurul" near Baia Mare in Romania was broken. According to official Romanian data, about 100.000 m3 of muddy water containing cyanide, heavy metals and other pollutants, spilled to the stream Lupus, then reached rivers Somes, Tisza and finally, Danube. The consequence of that heavy accident was the largest, fresh water environmental catastrophe in Central and Eastern Europe so far. It caused the havoc in the rivers Lapus, Somes and Tisza, as well as the serious destruction of aquatic life in the Danube River.
Having in mind that it was not possible to eliminate pollution, main efforts in Yugoslavia were done on protection of human health in a settlements what are using near by underground water for drinking water supply, on prevention of the spreading of ground water pollution on a larger areas through irrigation channels, as well as on collection and dumping of dead fish to the sanitary holes.
The short chronology of the pollution from the mine "Aurul" in Baira Mare in Romania
Yugoslav institutions responsible for ambient water quality monitoring received the first official information about the accidental pollution in February 2nd.
Official representatives of the Republic Hidrometeorological Institute of Serbia (RHIS) and Public Water Management Company "Srbijavode" (i.e. VPC "Dunav"- Novi Sad), according to interstate agreement, set up first contacts with Hungarian representatives in the Yugoslav - Hungarian Commission for Water Management in February 2nd to request reliable official information about the origin, nature and scope of pollution as well as about the location and moving of pollution "wave". The permanent exchange of information, needed common activities and joint sampling of Tisza River water at the State border profile were also considered. The official reply from Hungarian representatives has been provided in February 2nd in the afternoon.
Immediately after the first information about the accident RHIS started sampling Tisza River water at the border Gauging Station (GS) "Martonos" and established permanent communication with Hungarian colleagues.
On February 9th Yugoslav and Hungarian representatives in bilateral Commission for Water Management had the first meeting in Baja (Hungary). They agreed that "zero state" of Tisza water quality at Hungary / FRY State Border to be determined immediately in order to provide reliable data for future compensation claim. They also agreed to start the common continuous monitoring of passing of pollution "wave" along the river stretch of mutual interest.
Since February 10th RHIS started sampling at the border GS "Martonos" by the frequency of 2-3 hours. The "marsh routing" along Tisza River course started in February 11th.
First traces of cyanide at the GS "Martonos" detected in February 10th, at 6.00 a.m. The concentration of 0,002 mg/1 has been observed. After two hours the concentration of cyanide increased to 0,013 mg/1. The maximum cyanide concentration of 2,52 mg/1 observed in February 11th, about 18.50 p.m.
Sampling at the GS "Titel" (8 km upstream of the mouth of Tisza River in Danube) began in February 12th. The first trace of cyanide has been detected in February 13th at 6 a.m. The maximum cyanide concentration of 2,28 mg/1 observed in February 13th at 16.45 p.m.
Monitoring of the Danube water quality started in February 12th. According to data, peak of pollution "wave" passed along the Stari Banovci-Zemun section (25-30 km downstream of the Tisza River mouth) during the night February 13/14th. The maximum cyanide concentration of 1,31 mg/1 has been observed near the left bank.
At GS "Pancevo" profile (65 km downstream of the Tisza River mouth and 15 km downstream of the Sava River mouth) the maximum Cyanide concentration of 0,45 mg/1 observed in February 14th at 11 a.m.
Monitoring of water quality at GS "Banatska Palanka" (1 km upstream of Yugoslav / Romanian State Border) started in February 14th. The maximum cyanide concentrations of 0,38 mg/1 (left bank), 0,22 (middle) and 0,17 (right bank) observed in February 15th about 15 p.m. The cyanide "wave" definitely passed this point in the evening February 16th.
Monitoring along the section Golubac-Kladovo started in February 15th afternoon. The cyanide has not been detected yet. Maximum cyanide concentration of 0,120 mg/1 observed in February 16th, at 9.00 a.m.
Maximum cyanide concentration 0,07 mg/1 at GS "Kladovo" (5 km downstream of Iron Gate I) observed in the evening February 17th.
Besides of cyanide the muddy water from gold mine "Aurul" contained heavy metals so the heavy metals content in Tisza and Danube has been analyzed.
At GS "Mortonos", increased concentrations of cooper, manganese and iron has been observed in all samples. In February 11th concentration of cooper 13 times and Iron 12 times higher than Maximum Permissible Level (MPL) were observed. Also, the concentration of Manganese exceeding MPL has been registered.
Measures implemented
Along with the monitoring of water quality other activities to cope with pollution and to prevent endangering of public health have been carried out.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of the Republic of Serbia have been announced in February 10th the prohibition of using of the Tisza River water as well as the order on prohibition of fishing and fish trading (trafficking).
On February 10th. Public Water Management Company "Srbijavode" sent the official announcement on approaching of pollution "wave" to all water users along Tisza and Danube. It requested from local water management companies along the Tisza River to close all the weirs and gates on the canals connected to Tisza river, to stop operation of all water supply facilities as well as to take out the dead fish floating on the water surface. It has also established the Task Force to coordinate monitoring, information activities, collecting of dead fish and dumping to sanitary holes, as well as to enforce necessary activities on international cooperation.
Immediately, after the first information about cyanide spill, the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Serbia undertakes a number of preventive measures to protect public health in potentially exposed areas. The Emergency has been ordered for eight regional and local A3s for public health protection.
Serious, permanent and extraordinary monitoring of drinking water in affected area as well as continuous inspection of food has been carried out.
The Sanitary Inspection has defined locations for dumping holes and gave the instructions for sanitary scavenging of dead fish took out from the Tisza and Danube.
Also, the especial call service for permanent informing of citizens was established.
On February .12th, the Public Water Management Company "Srbijavode" sent the second announcement about pollution and enforcement of necessary measures.
Consequences of cyanide and heavy metals spill on the Tisza and Danube Ecosystems
On February 14th the Institute for Protection of Nature of Serbia (IPNS) started field works (sampling, collecting of biomaterials, etc.) in order to investigate immediate environmental consequences of Cyanide and Heavy Metals Spill on the Tisza and Danube.
Concentration of heavy metals and cyanide caused severe decrease of number of plankton in Yugoslav part of the Tisza and Danube. Preliminary results of analyses of quality and quantity of fito-plankton clearly demonstrated that 80-90% of phito-plankton has been destroyed. Destruction of plankton with its deposit on river bottom and further disintegration secondary pollution is going to occur with renewed emergence of heavy metals in water and mud. In addition to that, fito-plankton is important component in nutrition of fish in Tisza. Toxic materials use to accumulate in fish because fish is finalstage of nutrition chain suffering cumulative effect from all other species from earlier stages. Birds and some mammals (eating fish) are in danger as well.
Collection and dumping of died fish has been organized in all municipalities along Tisza and Danube. It is necessary to set up monitoring of potential secondary pollution from scavenged contaminated dead fish. First estimation of quantities of collected died fish is in the magnitude of 15 tons. It is estimated that this quantity represents just 1/4 of dead fish.
Long term consequences of this ecological catastrophe are difficult to estimate. It is to be considered that consequences are going to experienced in next years specially because of long term interrupted nutrition chains as well as because of long term presence of heavy metals in the bottom sediments along the Tisza and Danube. Consequences will affect many protected areas (at whole 19) including two Ramsar areas that are located in neighborhood or indirectly connected with the Tisza and Danube.
There are many protected species in the Tisza and Danube region, whose existence will be endanger because of ecological disaster caused of cyanide and heavy metals spill in Tisza and Danube.
Activities related to UNEP / OCHA
Warning about entrance of cyanide polluted water has been sent to the Federal Ministry for Development, Science and Environment (FMDSE), at February 11, 2000, via the Permanent Mission of FRY at OUN, from Joint UNEP / OCHA Environment Unit -Disaster Response Branch. Same day, representatives of UNEP / OCHA were informed via fax, about activities of Yugoslavian federal, republic and local institutions regarding cyanide pollution in the Tisza River.
Official request for urgent support in condition of ecological disaster has been released by FMDSE at February 17, 2000 and sent via Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Permanent Mission of FRY at OUN to representatives of UNEP / OCHA. Fact finding mission of UNEP / OCHA was necessary. That mission has to assess situation in all three affected countries (Romania, Hungary, and Yugoslavia).
In accordance with decision of Federal Government on February 22nd FMDSE organized a meeting with responsible federal and republic institutions as well as with competent experts. Tlie Coordination Body for estimation of environmental pollution in the Rivers Tisza and Danube in FRY caused by cyanide and heavy metals from gold mine "Aurul" in Romania has been organized at the meeting.
Coordination Body had few meetings about preparatory activities for cooperation with UNEP / OCHA as well as future activities about sanitation and protection of the Rivers Tisza and Danube.
Rivers Tisza and Danube Assessment Mission of UNEP / OCHA was in FRY from March 2 to March 4, 2000 after it has finished the activities in Romania and Hungary. UN and Yugoslav experts took samples of water, sediments, flora and fauna from Tisza and Danube. Reports will be made available at the end of March.
Mining waste spill from the Baia Borsa in Romania
In Baia Borsa in Romania on 10th March 2000 the breech in the artificial decantation reservoir near mine was ruptured allowing a spill of around 20.000 tons of mineral waste with big concentration of lead and zinc.
The accident caused pollution of the Vaser River with heavy metals elements. The Vaser River is a tributary to the Tisza River, flowing through Ukraine and Hungary to Yugoslavia.
Pollution waters reached the territory of Yugoslavia in the night of 17/18 March 2000. Competent federal, republic and local bodies warned relevant monitoring institutions, local authorities and citizens about accident.
Assessment of pollution level, through the analysis of water, sediments, soil and aquatic life is being carried out on the end of March.
March 20th, 2000.