Environment Minister: Signs of toxic substance in Oder

Created: 08/11/2022, 7:30 p.m

Axel Vogel (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen), Brandenburg Minister for the Environment, gestures.

© Soeren Stache/dpa

According to the Brandenburg State Ministry for the Environment, when examining the fish kill in the Oder, it is becoming apparent that an as yet unknown, highly toxic substance is flowing through the water.

But even after the first test results, the reason for this remains unclear, the ministry announced late Thursday afternoon.

Further test results are expected to be available on Friday.

Potsdam – The Brandenburg Environment Minister also criticized the lack of information from the Polish authorities and asked for clarification.

The first analysis results consistently showed that a strong wave of organic substances passed through Frankfurt an der Oder and has since continued downstream, currently to Schwedt.

Effects on the ecosystem suggested synthetic chemicals, most likely also toxic to vertebrates.

According to the ministry, the first results of the organic trace substance analysis are expected on Friday.

According to the announcement, State Environment Minister Axel Vogel (Greens) said: "It must be said that the reporting chains between the Polish and German sides did not work in this case." of the International Commission for the Protection of the Oder against Pollution (IKSO) has not reached the State Office for the Environment.

The environmental authority received the first indications of environmental pollution on Tuesday (August 9) via the Berlin-Brandenburg State Laboratory (LLBB).

The State Office handed over samples of the water to the Berlin-Brandenburg State Laboratory for analysis.

According to the ministry, samples are also taken from dead fish in order to analyze the cause of the fish death.

The authorities also want to prevent the contaminated water from spreading.

The environment department announced that the Alte Oder had been separated from the main Oder.

The water and shipping authority has also taken precautions for the Spree and the Hohensaaten-Friedrichsthal waterway.

dpa