A sodium cyanide spill from a metal finishing company into the Walsall Canal in the UK has caused significant fish kills, with around 90 kilograms of dead fish removed from a 1 kilometre stretch of the canal, raising concerns about serious environmental impacts.
The spill, which occurred at Anochrome, a metal finishing company, was declared a major incident last week. The affected section of the canal has been closed to the public.
Initial tests by Walsall Council, the local authority, have revealed severe contamination in a 300 metre stretch of the canal, leading to the removal of fish carcasses over the weekend. The council has reported significant fish kills but has not yet determined the full extent of the environmental damage.
Daily chemical tests are underway, and temporary dams have been installed to contain the contamination, where high levels of sodium cyanide and zinc cyanide have been detected.
The Canal & River Trust has launched a £10,000 (nearly $13,000) fundraising campaign for clean-up efforts, describing the situation as
“extremely worrying” for local wildlife.
Biologist Paul Wilkinson warned that the aquatic ecosystem could have been seriously damaged, with potential long-term impacts on small invertebrates and larger wildlife, such as otters.
He also warned of the potential dominance of invasive species and algae in the affected area, with wildlife recovery potentially taking years.
The spill has killed more than 100 juvenile fish and several larger fish, with numbers likely to rise. Although other sections of the canal are in line with public health guidelines, the public is being advised not to remove or consume fish from the waterways.
The Environment Agency is investigating Anochrome, condemning the pollution as
“unacceptable”. Officials are also warning of symptoms of sodium cyanide poisoning, such as nausea and loss of consciousness, and are urging the public to avoid contact with contaminated water.
This article is originally published on yenisafak.com
