Kerch strait spill: Carcinogens detected at alarming levels
Following the fuel oil spill in the Kerch Strait, scientists have discovered a dangerous concentration of the carcinogen benzo(a)pyrene in the soil of local beaches. This finding raises serious concerns for public health and environmental conditions.
On December 15, an incident involving the Russian tankers Volgoneft 212 and Volgoneft 239 occurred in the Kerch Strait, resulting in the spill of at least 4,400 tonnes of fuel oil into the sea.
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The strait, located between Russia and the annexed Crimea, has become a site of serious environmental threat.
Dangerous concentration of benzo(a)pyrene
According to reports from the independent Russian portal Moscow Times, citing research from the Russian Academy of Sciences, soil collected from the beaches in the affected area has detected benzo(a)pyrene at concentrations exceeding the acceptable norm by over 22.5 times.
Benzo(a)pyrene is a carcinogenic substance that poses a serious threat to human health.
Clean-up operations
The operational staff of the Krasnodar Region have reported that so far, 16,500 tonnes of contaminated sand from the beaches have been sifted and cleaned. In total, over 195,000 tonnes of contaminated sand and soil have been collected and removed. Specialized equipment was used to clean 265 kilometres of coastline, highlighting the scale of the problem.
Food safety
Despite the severe contamination, authorities assure the public that fish caught in the Black Sea are safe to consume. A total of 866 tests were conducted on various fish and seafood products, with results showing no irregularities.
This information comes from a report published by the Polish Press Agency, which references data collected by Russian and local authorities. The disaster in the Kerch Strait underscores the critical importance of monitoring and protecting the environment amid growing ecological threats.
