Environment Energy Mining Watch SEE|News|Lack of information creates a lot of worries about Jadar project in Serbia

Lack of information creates a lot of worries about Jadar project in Serbia

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Is the concern regarding the announced lithium mine of the inhabitants of Radjevina and Loznica justified? Judging by what Petar Bulat, a professor at the Belgrade Medical Faculty and a subspecialist in professional toxicology, said on the second day of the gathering dedicated to the Jadar project organized by the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts.

On the second day of the gathering, Marija Alimpić, on behalf of the association “Let’s protect Jadar and Radjevina” at SANU, sent a message that “our country will not be soaked in poison” and that “Loznica will be defended by 50,000 people”, Aleksandar Jovanović Ćuta, one of the founders of the movement. “Let’s defend the rivers of the Old Mountain.”

– Our arms and legs are cut, what will we live with and how will we raise our children – Zlatko Kokanović from the association “Ne damo Jadar” asked those present.

– The investor spoke very rosy about the project, while not giving enough information, and in such conditions it is difficult to talk about the impact on health. But we must keep in mind that one is a project and one is the wishes of the investor, and something completely different is its realization. In the case of Zajača, which is in the immediate vicinity, we can see what the interaction between the living and working environment is like. There is not enough data on the impact of lithium on human health, especially when it comes to workers who are exposed during production. This metal has been used for decades in the treatment of psychiatric patients to improve mood, and it is known to reduce the function of the kidneys, thyroid gland … The biggest problem in this story is – arsenic. It can be expected to reach the air and watercourses, and it is very well absorbed from the respiratory and digestive systems. It is known to lead to diabetes, damage the liver, vascular system, kidneys … Its carcinogenicity is the most worrying – explained prof. Dr. Bulat, what health problems can the local population face by opening a jadarite mine.

Lead will not cause problems in the adult population, but it is a danger for children. They are sensitive due to the immature nervous system, and lead can lead to intellectual development disorders. Cadmium is another metal that the surrounding population can face with the opening of the mine near Loznica, and scientists have linked it to lung and prostate cancer. In addition to all the above, prof. Dr. Bulat adds that nickel, chromium, mercury, zinc, boron can also be found in the environment …

– Nickel and boron are substances for which there is evidence that they lead to the appearance of malignancy. Also, during transport into the air, PM 2.5 and PM 10 particles can reach, which leads to a decrease in lung function, myocardial infarction, shortening of life expectancy … but it is difficult to speak of a balance of positive and negative influence. Although we do not have detailed information about the technology they will use, we must think in advance about the possible consequences – explained prof. Dr. Bulat concluded that if the population is exposed to these substances, it is certain what will happen next.

And the mine will have a devastating impact on biodiversity. According to prof. Dr. Imra Krizmanić from the Faculty of Biology, more than 90 species of aquatic invertebrates live in this area, 85 percent of the fish that are in our waters, 55 percent are amphibians.

– The Faculty of Biology has proposed protection measures, but they cannot oblige anyone to implement them. And those measures are of limited capacity. There are actually no solutions. Moving plants is only possible in botanical gardens because there are no two places in the world. These plants and animals are very localized and they have lived there since before the ice age – said Dr. Krizmanić.

Source: politika.rs

 

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