The explosion in a Leverkusen waste incineration plant caused a gigantic cloud of smoke to rise. The first dead have been saved, now the gaze is directed to the content of the cloud.
Leverkusen – After the massive explosion in a Leverkusen waste incineration plant, the question of possible health risks for the population came to the fore on Wednesday.
The North Rhine-Westphalian State Environment Agency (LANUV) announced that it was “currently” assumed that the released cloud of smoke had carried “dioxin, PCB and furan compounds” into the surrounding residential areas.
After the explosion, the public prosecutor’s office initiated investigations into suspected negligent homicide. In addition, because of negligent causing of an explosive explosion will be determined, said the authority. The allegation is directed against unknown.
A spokesman said the task was to see if human error could have led to the detonation. An investigation team has also been set up at the Cologne police.
The cause of the detonation is unclear
The operating company of the Chempark, which was shaken by the detonation, said meanwhile that it assumes the death of the five missing employees. The explosion had killed at least two people, 31 were injured according to the operator Currenta. The cause of the detonation is still unclear.
After the accident, tanks burned in which, according to Currenta, “organic solvents” were stored. Then a huge cloud of smoke rose, soot particles fell on nearby towns. At first it was unclear which substances were exactly in the smoke. The city of Leverkusen recommended to its residents, among other things, not to eat any fruit or vegetables from the garden on which particles had deposited.
The LANUV said that according to its information, chlorinated solvents, among other things, were stored in the tanks concerned. “The particular problem with substances that contain chlorine is that chlorine compounds can turn into dioxin or PCB compounds during a combustion process,” explained a spokesman. The concentration in which this actually happened is currently being investigated in a dedicated dioxin laboratory. “These examinations are quite complex, so the results will not be available before the end of this week.”
The question of concentration is crucial. “Dioxin, PCB and furan compounds are definitely associated with deformities in newborns of animals, less so in humans than environmental oestrogens or cancer-causing substances in humans,” said Daniel Dietrich, head of the human and environmental toxicology working group at the University of Konstanz , the German Press Agency. “But – and that’s the big but – only in high concentrations. And that is not the case if the area in question is cleaned and decontaminated over time. “
Probably not an acute danger to the population
The fabrics stuck to surfaces, he said. “They don’t jump at you, you would have to actively transport them into your body – for example when you lick your hands after working in the garden.” Even if you were covered from top to bottom with the particles, you could do them without risk wash off with soap. “In my estimation, there is no acute danger for the population if they adhere to the recommendations of the State Environment Agency and the other authorities involved,” said Dietrich.
Since the final analysis was still pending, the city of Leverkusen upheld its recommendations to the citizens. The soot should not be carried into the home. In addition to fruit and vegetables, garden furniture or pools should also be avoided in the affected areas. If you urgently need to work in the garden, you should wear gloves as a precaution. The playgrounds in the districts of Bürrig and Opladen, which are close to the explosion site, remained closed for the time being. On Tuesday the municipality had already announced that Currenta would “promptly clean the streets, sidewalks and house entrances”.
The search for the missing persons continued at the scene of the accident. However, hopes of finding survivors dwindled to a minimum. “Unfortunately, we have to assume that we will not find the five missing people alive,” said Currenta boss Frank Hyldmar. There are four employees of his company and one employee of an external company. dpa
