In recent days, the technogenic disaster on the northern outskirts of the Crimean peninsula has been a major environmental issue in Ukraine. Similar to the situation with the territories in Donbass not controlled by the Ukrainian government, no civil society organization or public controling auhtority of Ukraine have the possibility to get to the scene and directly collect materials for analysis. Because of the lack of reliable facts, the information space filled out with many reports of contradictory, and sometimes absurd content.
Most of the information was accumulated around loud political issues: closure by the occupation authorities of the Tytan plant in Armiansk»1 (there are versions about intentional shelling of the plant by Russians)2 and problems with water supply by Ukraine to the Crimean peninsular3. There is also information about connection of Ukrainian oligarch D. Firtash, the owner of the plant, to the catastrophe4. However, members of the Parliament see this situation as chemical attack on Ukraine by the occupation authorities5. These are versions and highlights that are on top of news ratings. Of course, the occupation authorities and Russia leadership accuse Ukraine of causing the catastrophe 6.
EPL has its own view of the situation based on evidence from Crimean colleagues.
First of all, it should be noted that the contamination was caused by a storage pond used for storing waste of Sulphur department of the plant including Sulphur acid. The storage pond was to be watered every day because regular watering is important for safe maintenance of the storage pond. However,, the plant owner responsible for its waste did not find it necessary to organize water supply. Was it usual negligence or intentional violation of safety rules is not clear because the situation was kept in secrecy. Dring out of the pond is evaporation of water from solution and emission into the air of Sulphur anhydride that is acid gas and when mixed with water can create acid again. This happens because of chemical reaction with water drops in fog, dew on plants, with drops of sweat on human skin or mucous membrane of eyes, nose, mouth cavity, tracheas, bronchi.
Therefore, anhydride may be dangerous on its own or because it can be transformed into acid. Sulphur anhydride may cause irritation, dyspnea, pneumonia. Majority of population in polluted areas complain of problems with respiratory system, eyes, allergies. These are first of all residents of Armiansk and Perekop in Crimea as well as Preobrazhenka in Kherson region. Ukrainian border guards also turned for medical assistance.
Besides negative impact on human health, acid has adverse impact on the environment. Plants get chemical burnings and die soon because of this. A big part of the harvest has been contaminated or lost on the above mentioned territories. Animals like people suffer primarily because of inhaling contaminated air.
Potential contamination of Syvash located nearby is still an open question because this the place of wintering of birds from whole Europe. Moreover, the ecosystems of the Black and Azov Seas are also threatened.
In such a situation the best for local population is to leave the contaminated territories until the storage ponds are watered. The occupation authorities should disseminate information among people about ways of protecting themselves.
If for some reason you cannot leave, please follow the following rules:
Limit to the maximum the time spent outside;
Clean your home with water solution of sodium on a daily basis;
Do not open your windows or put a wet cloth on them saturated in sodium solution; rinse it regularly;
If it is still necessary to go outside, put on thick clothes covering limbs as well as a mask saturated in sodium solution and change it regularly;
Drink more liquid;
Do not strain yourself physically. Physical activities make people breath more frequently and deeply, which is dangerous if the air is contaminated.
If you feel bad, go to the doctor.
This is for the first time in history of Tytan plant that something like this happened. Watering the storage pond will be a difficult task because it covers 42 square kilometers and needs 30 mln cubic meters of water. We hope that business will start thinking not only about profits but also about safety of people living and working in this territory.
Contacts:
office@epl.org.ua
(032) 255 76 82
1 https://24tv.ua/ekologichna_katastrofa_u_krimu_okupatsiyna_vlada_zakrivaye_titan_ta_evakuyovuye_ditey_n1026013
2 https://tsn.ua/ukrayina/ekologichna-katastrofa-v-okupovanomu-krimu-stalasya-cherez-obstril-zavodu-minoboroni-1212300.html
4 https://tsn.ua/ukrayina/u-krimu-pidpriyemstvo-firtasha-zvinuvatili-u-vikidah-himichnoyi-rechovini-1209576.html