Russia outlines plans for toxic waste clean up

Russia has committed to cleaning 160 tons of highly toxic waste after it was illegally dumped close to a town in the Udmurtia region of central Russia.

Residents from the town appealed to the Kremlin (political house in Moscow) about the disposal of 163 tonnes of carbon tetrachloride by a chemical company, which was dumped in an abandoned asphalt plant in Belezino.

A letter was sent to president Dmitry Medvedev asking him to intervene and accused the regional government of putting 40,000 people at risk, saying: "The (regional) administration had known about the crime since the end of December but had thoroughly covered it up until March 14, 2012, when the information was revealed on national television."

Carbon tetrachloride is dangerous because it can generate poisonous phosgene gas when heated. Even inhaling a small dose can cause death within 14 weeks, the residents said in the letter. Spring temperatures could increase the evaporation of the chemicals which could then contaminate water and local land.

Work to remove the dangerous substances will start imminently, according to the chief of staff of the deputy head of the regional government, Robert Bogdanov.

Posted by Claire Manning