Facial Herpe In The Eyes

Boues rouges : en France aussi le risque de pollution existe

Par Sophie Chapelle (11 octobre 2010)

Pendant que la pollution aux boues rouges affole la Hongrie, des inquiétudes s’expriment sur une usine similaire en France : l’usine d’aluminium de Gardanne, du groupe Rio Tinto, rejette plus de 200.000 tonnes de boues rouges… dans la Méditerranée.

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© Balázs Mohai

Alors que la Hongrie fait actuellement face à sa pire catastrophe Environmentally, the plant managers Gardanne (Bouches-du-Rhone), only in France to produce alumina, are reassuring. In an interview with AFP, they ensure that the residues are stored "most toxic" and are "solid," unlike the situation in Hungary. In 2010, the plant extract about 450,000 tons of alumina from bauxite, a naturally occurring mineral mainly imported from Guinea. The plant, which belongs to Anglo-Saxon group Rio Tinto - Alcan Inc. (which acquired Pechiney) makes bricks for blast furnaces, ceramics or special glasses especially for screens dishes.

This production, however, a major environmental cost caused by the "deforestation" and "significant pollution" generated, said in a press release Friends of the Earth France. "Each ton of aluminum results in the release of 4 tonnes of red mud as harmful by their quantity than their pH (potential of hydrogen, ie) basic," says the environmental group.
red mud spilled into the Mediterranean
Only 20% of waste, checked twice a year, are currently stored in an area of 30 acres with two miles of the mill Gardanne. The remainder is diluted before being dumped at sea off Cassis via line 47 km long, which opens at 7 km offshore in 320 meters deep. "The volume of waste dumped in 2008 reached 237,000 tons. The spill of red mud in the sea off the coast of Cassis could jeopardize the creation of the natural park of the Creeks, "said Friends of the Earth. This sludge owe their color to the presence of iron oxides. The spill lasted for forty years and is expected to end in 2015 under the terms of a commitment by the Pechiney Group, long the site owner. For now, dust and emissions in the bay of Cassis concern to the locals and environmental groups.

More than one million cubic meters of highly toxic red mud was spilled, Monday, October 4, polluting seven localities in Hungary, 160 km from Budapest after the collapse of a tank in an aluminum plant [1] . The toll of the disaster reported seven dead, one missing and at least 150 wounded. Authorities ensure that "the Danube is out of danger" after finding rates alkali (which measure the presence of sodium, potassium or lithium ...) close to normal. But environmental groups believe that the threat ecosystem remains. A fear reinforced by the threat of another landslide Saturday morning, following a further weakening of the dam reservoir of the plant. The company

MAL (Magyar Aluminium), owner of the Hungarian plant, denies any responsibility in the accident. It is however believed to have stored too red mud in the tank, which, combined with heavy rains and poor maintenance, would have give a dam. Hungary has announced a quick inspection of all the red mud ponds of the country and a future tightening of safety standards. "Establish strict safety rules is not enough, because we see the limits of their effectiveness. We must now review our methods of production and consumption drastically reduce pressure on natural resources and ecosystems, "said Anne Bringault, director of Friends of the Earth.

Sophie Chapel


Notes [1] The Hungarian Association Csalán has appealed for funding for protective equipment intended for the inhabitants directly affected. More information on the website of Friends of the Earth or on the site Csalán.
About

Urgent Appeal in solidarity with the inhabitants of Hungarian municipalities affected by the pollution:

- Powered by Friends of the Earth
- the site of the Hungarian Association Csalán.


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