Toxic Sludge Creates Health Hazard for Hungarian Humans and Animals

In my veterinary and personal life, I preach the merits of healthier living through reducing our (both pet and people) exposure to environmental toxins (see Reduce Your Pet's Exposure to Toxins During October's National Pet Wellness Month). Common vehicles through which toxins enter our bodies are through the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the water we drink. This process typically causes health problems resulting from cumulative exposure, often manifesting slowly over months to years. Alternatively, sudden subjection to noxious substances can yield rapid onset of ailments, including death, as seen in the horrific, recent circumstance in Hungary. Human and animal residents of the city of Kolontar and surrounding communities have been poisoned by the byproducts of aluminum manufacturing when a holding reservoir broke open. Crimson toxic muck has invaded neighboring villages, leaving a wide swath of destruction and death. In her article “Hungarian Towns Begin Cleanup of Nightmarish Red Sludge” Elisabeth Rosenthal of The International Herald Tribune details the report of a Kolontar villager, Krisztian Holczer, that “a wave of red sludge had just poured in over the back fence Monday and was descending rapidly over his backyard smothering chickens and rabbits, as well as an elaborately tended garden of flowers, peppers grapes, and tomatoes. The muddy red ooze rose up until it covered the tiled front porch and then leaked in through the front door, dyeing pristine white lace curtains a deep red.” The scarlet ooze is a byproduct of the conversion of bauxite to aluminum and is extremely caustic. Exposure to the highly alkaline (greater than neutral pH 7) sludge causes mild to severe skin, lung, and eye inflammation. So far, seven people have died, hundreds have sought medical treatment for burns, and innumerable animals have died. Besides the direct caustic effect, the waste contains heavy metals and is radioactive. Therefore, despite vigorous cleanup efforts, contaminated land may take years to become safely habitable. Having previously witnessed the effects of chemical and thermal burns on my patients skin (see Severely Burned French Bulldog Nearly Healed with Acupuncture Treatments), my greatest sympathies go out to Hungarian people and animals affected by the hazardous waste. I hope the spill’s report to have reached the Danube River does not further adversely affect Hungarian regions relying on the Danube’s water or wildlife for sustenance or commerce. Thank you for reading my article. To receive my next article via email, please press the “Don’t Miss a Blog Post” button on the right upper corner of this page. Copyright of this article (2010) is owned by Dr. Patrick Mahaney, Veterinarian and Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist. Republishing any portion of this article must first be authorized by Dr. Patrick Mahaney. Requests for republishing must be approved by Dr. Patrick Mahaney and received in written format. Photo Credit Flickr Takacs Licensed under Creative Commons