Cyanide Spill Threatens Health in Europe

River and Stream Pollution Case - The Baia

Mare cyanide spill 2000
BIOL 265: Principles of Environmental Health
Supervised by: Orville Grey
June 21, 2016 NCU

Introduction
Background:
- cyanide, copper & heavy metals escape on
30th January 2000 at Aurul dam in Baia
Mare, Romania
- dam build in1998, owned by Romanian
government and an Australian company.
- suspected cause, poor dam design and
high weather condition (REC, 2000).

Introduction Cont.
The consequences of the pollution:
-

damaged farmland
damaged rivers and streams ecosystem
killed fishes and other wildlife
poisoned drinking water and soil
destroyed the livelihood of fisherman
(Mergel, 2011).

History of the Problem

Risk of cyanide
- toxic chemical that is produced naturally
- used in gold extraction
- recognized as a poison to humans and other
living organisms
- exposure may damage the brain and heart
(CDPC, 2013).

Risk Analysis
Risk Assessment:
- Identify hazards were concentrations of heavy
metals, lead, copper, zinc and inadequate plans and
responses in place for emergencies, insufficient
accident plans
- Exposure were heavy impact on all aquatic life in the
rivers and minimal immediate health risk to human,
longer term impact on human health and
environmental health

Risk Analysis Cont.

- Dose-Response levels of cyanide was four times
higher than usual
- Risk characterization large quantities of
hazardous materials used too close to human
populations and the river system

Risk Analysis Cont.

Risk Management:
-

Aurul was ordered to stop activities and close the breakage,

authorities announced the prohibition of fishing and fish
trading.

- Relief efforts focused on removing the dead fish before they

could impact progressive links on the local food chains,
NGOs order temporary closure of the water intakes from
Rivers, dams, lakes and ponds
- Improvements should include surveys to plan and develop
new water resources and new monitoring systems for
groundwater and private wells by local authorities.

Risk Analysis Cont.

Risk Communication:
- Joint venture of UNEP and OCHA international
experts.
- The team collect and review data then prepared
recommendations for future action and prevention.
- Mission lasted from 23 February 6 March 2000
- Team combined sampling, analysis, interviews with
local experts, discussions with national authorities,
affected populations and NGOs for further study.

Vulnerable Population
Populations:
- Romanian
- Hungarian
- Yugoslavian

Most vulnerable groups:

- The village of Bozanta Mare
- biodiversity

Legislation in Jamaica
-The National Water Commission
-Water Resources Authority
(WRA)
-Ministry of Health

References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Facts about Cyanide (2005),
retrieved from http://emergency.cdc.gov/agent/cyanide/basics/facts.asp
Mergel, M. (2011) Baia Mare Cyanide spill. Retrieved from
http://www.toxipedia.org/display/toxipedia/Baia+Mare+Cyanide+Spill
Rainforest Information Centre (2005). Cyanide Incidence, retrieved
fromhttp://www.rainforestinfo.org.au/gold/spills.htm
Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe (2000)
The Cyanide Spill at Baia Mare, Romania - Before, during and after,
retrieved from
http://archive.rec.org/REC/Publications/CyanideSpill/ENGCyanide.pdf