« Deep concern » after the discovery of plastic granules in water and on the coast – Liberation
Plastic pellets have been discovered in water and on the coast of eastern England, a week after the northern sea collision between a container carrier and an oil tanker, arousing on Monday a « Deep concern » from the royal bird protection society.
The British coast guard specified that an operation to recover these pastilles, measuring between 1 and 5 millimeters, had started. According to them, they are not « Not toxic but can represent A risk for fauna if they are ingested ”. These pellets, which are used in the production of plastic, were initially identified on Sunday by the British rescue services in the water near a bay on the east coast of England, about 70 kilometers south of the place of the collision, indicated the chief of the coast guard, Paddy O'Callaghan.
They were also observed at « Different places » Over thirty kilometers along the coast – which houses several natural reserves – and specialists in the anti -pollution control have been mobilized, according to the same source. Coast guardes judge « likely » that they found themselves in the water after the collision. « We are deeply worried »reacted Steve Rowland, local manager of the Royal Bird Protection Company. He said these pellets « The size of a lens » were for some « Detached, others agglutinated ». « They are charred and feel kerosene », he added.
« All this area, which is one of the wetlands of the East coast, is of international importance for birds and fauna », he continued, adding that it was « From a crucial migration path at that time of the year, an essential place of food for sea birds and, soon, a nesting site » For some rare and threatened birds.
« We only have a few days to eliminate (this pollution) from the beaches before the rising tides disperse the debris and that they are rejected in the sea and in the food chain », he warned, evoking a « race against time ».
Pollution fears resulting from the shock were high. On the one hand, the Immaculate STENA transported approximately 220,000 barrels of aviation fuel and of which one of the reservoirs was « breeze » in the collision. « 17,515 jet-a-A1 fuel barrels were lost as a result of the impact and the fire, » said Crowley, the US Oil operator. The contents of the container carrier Solong remained mysterious, its German owner having just indicated, the day after the collision, that he did not transport sodium cyanide, unlike initial information.
Until now, the British authorities had indicated Having not noticed a sign of pollution After the collision, despite the losses of goods and fires that ran several days following the incident. Investigators, who dismissed the criminal track but charged the captain of Solong For involuntary homicide by negligence, always seek to understand why the Solong has deviated from his course to the point of hitting the STENA IMMACULATE.
