Red sludge flowed into the Danube River in Hungary today. The Danube is the second largest river in Europe and is a key water source for many European nations. On Monday a waste storage reservior of an aluminum plant collasped and released a red sludge with a high concentration of metals, some that cause cancer. Crews have been cleaning up dead animal carcasses and at least four people have died. Even though, the sludge was considered hazardous the Hungarian Academy of Sciences said it was not dangerous to the environment. The main concern is the damage the sludge is going to do to the topsoil and if it contaminates drinking water for several nations. Also if the sludge dries it can turn to airborne dust which can cause respirtory problems. It is thought, and hoped, that it will not cause any more environmental damage. At first the pH level of the water reached 13, which is the same as bleach, but now has been reduced to 10. While there is hope to contain the spill some spots where the spill first hit are now dead zones. It was said that if this occurred at night most people would have died.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEMWh6EjJoY
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101008/ap_on_bi_ge/eu_hungary_sludge_flood
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