Poland seeks to contain toxic algae as tons of fish die in Oder basin
WARSAW, Aug 18 (Reuters) -Poland has taken steps to contain the spread of toxic golden algae in the river Oder's tributary system to prevent a repeat of the pollution crisis that hit the waterway in 2022, the climate ministry said on Sunday.
Hydrogen peroxide has been pumped in at the junction of the Gliwice Canal and the Klodnica river, helping to reduce the algae by over 90%, the ministry said in a statement.
Between Aug. 3 and 16 some 77 tons of fish have died in the affected section of the canal and in nearby lake Dierzno Duze. The risk related to the algae remains critical in the canal, it said.
"We emphasize that the use of hydrogen peroxide is a crisis measure, not a systemic one," the ministry said.
The main cause of golden algae growth is saline water discharged by the mining industry into the rivers. Poland is working on a plan to build desalination installations.
In the summer of 2022, hundreds of tons of dead fish were found in the Oder, which runs along part of Poland's border with Germany. Smaller amounts of dead fish have been found in the river and its tributaries on several occasions this year.
Reporting by Marek Strzelecki; editing by Giles Elgood
Latest News
Disclaimer: The XM Group entities provide execution-only service and access to our Online Trading Facility, permitting a person to view and/or use the content available on or via the website, is not intended to change or expand on this, nor does it change or expand on this. Such access and use are always subject to: (i) Terms and Conditions; (ii) Risk Warnings; and (iii) Full Disclaimer. Such content is therefore provided as no more than general information. Particularly, please be aware that the contents of our Online Trading Facility are neither a solicitation, nor an offer to enter any transactions on the financial markets. Trading on any financial market involves a significant level of risk to your capital.
All material published on our Online Trading Facility is intended for educational/informational purposes only, and does not contain – nor should it be considered as containing – financial, investment tax or trading advice and recommendations; or a record of our trading prices; or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instruments; or unsolicited financial promotions to you.
Any third-party content, as well as content prepared by XM, such as: opinions, news, research, analyses, prices and other information or links to third-party sites contained on this website are provided on an “as-is” basis, as general market commentary, and do not constitute investment advice. To the extent that any content is construed as investment research, you must note and accept that the content was not intended to and has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such, it would be considered as marketing communication under the relevant laws and regulations. Please ensure that you have read and understood our Notification on Non-Independent Investment. Research and Risk Warning concerning the foregoing information, which can be accessed here.