October 8, 2010
12:34 AM
Dozens of villages in Hungary are being affected by the recent toxic spill and it is headed toward Europe’s second largest river. An aluminum plant reservoir ruptured releasing tons of the toxic sludge. The sludge is red in color and consists of iron-oxide and aluminum oxide. The damage to humans is similar to that of cleaning products such as dry cracked skin upon contact. Hundreds of people have been treated for burns due to exposure. If ingested the effects are more severe and could be fatal. As long as the waste is cleaned up there should be no long term risk of harm to humans. It could take up to a year to rebuild the destroyed villages; in the meantime the residents have been evacuated. As it invades waterways the life of fish and plants are in jeopardy. All vegetation that was in the path of the spill has been destroyed. The locals in that area have been advised to abstain from eating home grown food as well as fishing or hunting.
The results from the toxic spill contaminating the water can be very harmful to the ecosystem as well as humans. Even though everyone in the area has been advised to stop using their wells there is still the chance of people ingesting it. Contaminated drinking water contributes to many deaths every year. The unfortunate residents that have been displaced from their homes will need assistance for months to come in the cleaning process and replacing items that were destroyed. While Hungary is a developing nation there is still industrialization and along with that comes increase risk for pollution and resource depletion. This toxic waste spill destroyed local crops and puts a hold on fishing which could be a major source of revenue for some families.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11492387
http://www.budapesttimes.hu/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=15536&Itemid=219
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