How many people died from the Baia Mare cyanide spill?

More than 2.5 million people in Hungary had their drinking water contaminated by cyanide. Wildlife was severely impacted by the Baia Mare cyanide leak. All living things along the Tisza were killed. In Serbia 200 tons of fish in the rivers were killed and 80% of all aquatic life was destroyed.

What caused Baia Mare cyanide spill?

On January 30, 2000, due to excessive amounts of snowfall a dam holding contaminated waters burst. This allowed 100,000 cubic meters of cyanide-contaminated water to spill over into farmlands and the Somes river.

Where did the Baia Mare water cyanide contamination happen?

On January 30th 2000, the dam containing toxic waste material from the Baia Mare Aurul gold mine in North Western Romania burst and released 100,000 cubic meters of waste water, heavily contaminated with cyanide, into the Lapus and Somes tributaries of the river Tisza, one of the biggest in Hungary.

What chemicals were involved in the Baia Mare cyanide spill?

A dyke burst in Baia Borşa, Maramureș County and 20,000 cubic metres of zinc, lead and copper-contaminated water made its way into the Tisza.

What problems did the gold mine in Romania in 2000 cause?

Water Contamination and Political Crisis A gold mine—jointly owned by Romania and an Australian company—dumped cyanide-tainted water into a major river in Romania in January 2000, killing fish and endangering the health of people in several countries.

How did the accidental spill of cyanide at a mine in Romania spread to neighboring countries?

Q. How did the accidental spill of cyanide at a mine in Romania spread to neighboring countries? Storms dropped rain poisoned with cyanide on other countries.

How can you prevent cyanide from spilling?

Wearing impervious gloves when handling cyanides. Wearing a protective apron, rubber boots and face shield or goggles whenever there is the possibility of being splashed with cyanides. Using appropriate respiratory equipment for the concentration of cyanide dust or gas that may be in the air.

How do you clean up a cyanide spill?

Do not attempt to clean up any spill if not trained or comfortable. Since cyanides will react with water to produce toxic hydrogen cyanide gas, never attempt to clean up cyanide spills with plain water. Evacuate the area and call 911 for help. If the spill is out of control, call 911.

What problems did the gold mine in Romania cause downstream?

An enormous “toxic bullet” of deadly cyanide that accidentally overflowed a dam at a Romanian gold mine has contaminated 250 miles of rivers in Hungary and Yugoslavia, killing millions of fish, shutting down water supplies and leaving a trail of aquatic devastation that will require years to repair.

What are other forms of pollution for the Danube River?

The most significant factors that affecting water quality of the Danube River basin are: organic pollution, nutrient pollution, hazardous substances pollution, microbial pollution (contamination), alterations due to the hydro morphological pressure (Gasparotti C. et all.

What was the main pollutant released at Chernobyl?

Chapter 16 Transboundary Pollution

How do you clean up sodium cyanide?

Many cyanide chemicals are cleaned from surfaces and equipment with a pH 10 buffer solution and then rinsing with a freshly made 10% bleach solution. Ensure supplies for cleaning/decontamination are readily available. Purchase or assemble supplies for a spill cleanup kit for [cyanide].