2022 Oder environmental disaster
{{Short description|Fish kill in Central Europe}}
{{Expand Polish|topic=hist|Katastrofa ekologiczna na Odrze}}
{{Expand German|topic=hist|Umweltkatastrophe in der Oder 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{Infobox event
| title = 2022 Oder environmental disaster
| image = Fischsterben-Oder-1.jpg
| caption = Dead fish in the Oder river on the border between Germany and Poland
| map = {{Infobox mapframe |id=Q552 |wikidata=yes | mapframe-shape = yes | mapframe-pin = yes |coord={{Coord|50.933|N|17.3|E}} |zoom=5 }}
| map_caption = Large-scale fish die-offs were reported in the river around Oława at the end of July{{r|DW}}
| date = July–August 2022
| place = Oder
| location =
| type = Environmental disaster
| cause = Harmful algal bloom of Prymnesium parvum
}}
During the summer of 2022, a mass mortality event involving fish, beavers, clams, crayfish and other wildlife occurred in the Oder river.
Over 100 tonnes of dead fish were removed from the Polish section of the river, and a further 35 tonnes from German sections,{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/aug/19/rare-golden-algae-may-have-caused-fish-deaths-in-oder-river-says-minister |title=Rare golden algae may have caused fish deaths in Oder River, says minister |date=19 August 2022 |work=www.theguardian.com |access-date=20 August 2022 |archive-date=19 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220819110911/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/aug/19/rare-golden-algae-may-have-caused-fish-deaths-in-oder-river-says-minister |url-status=live }} causing concern that the water was poisoned.
At first the cause was not clear, theories included the effects of the summer heat and lower water levels due to the European drought, reduced oxygen levels due to the heat and nutrient loading, a spike in oxygen levels due to the introduction of an oxidizing agent, and pollution by chemicals including mercury, mesitylene, salts or other sewage, as well as the possibility of an algal bloom. It was later determined to be an algal bloom, which was made possible by the discharge of saline industrial wastewater into the river on the Polish side, is now considered the probable cause of the disaster.
The Polish authorities were slow to react, causing a scandal and resulting in the dismissal of officials responsible for water management and environmental protection. A reward of 1 million zlotys (about €222,000, as of September 2023) was offered for information about possible culprits.{{Cite news |last1=Moody |first1=Oliver |last2=Olszanka |first2=Paulina |title=Mystery disaster leaves millions of fish dead in river on German/Polish border |language=en |url=https://www.thetimes.com/world/europe/article/mystery-disaster-leaves-millions-of-fish-dead-in-river-on-german-polish-border-bgv8bntsr |work=The Times |access-date=2022-08-15 |issn=0140-0460 |archive-date=15 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220815191613/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/mystery-disaster-leaves-millions-of-fish-dead-in-river-on-german-polish-border-bgv8bntsr |url-status=live }}
Background
The Oder flows through the city of Ostrava, across the Czech–Polish border, terminates the Gliwice Canal, passes through Lower Silesia including the city of Wrocław, and farther forms the German–Polish border until it flows into the Baltic Sea. It is engineered to carry heavy barge traffic.{{Cn|date=December 2023}}
Decades ago, the Oder river was extremely polluted before reaching Wrocław due to the heavy industrialization in Ostrava, Upper Silesia (connected through the Canal and the Kłodnica river having many large coal mines around), and Lower Silesia. Large chemical factories are in Kędzierzyn-Koźle at the Canal. Europe's largest coke (fuel) plant is located in Zdzieszowice just above Opole. Nowa Ruda (the 21st most polluted city in the European Union in 2015) with another coal mine lies in the mountains in the basin of Eastern Neisse, another of Oder's tributaries. The Jelcz factory is located near Oława just above Wrocław while a chemical plant - just below in Brzeg Dolny. Further west of Wrocław, in the basin of the Kaczawa tributary, lies Legnica with large copperworks KGHM and factories, whereas copper ore is mined in nearby Lubin. In the basin of the Bystrzyca (Oder) tributary, south of Legnica, there is the sizable city of Walbrzych with more coal mines, a coke plant, chemical and textile factories, which use chemical dyes and large amounts of water. In the basin of the Lusatian Neisse tributary, along which the Polish-German border is extended south of Oder, and south of Görlitz, lies the Turów coal mine supplying the nearby Turów Power Station with lignite often containing toxic heavy metals and sulfur.{{Cn|date=December 2023}}
As recently as 2012, the Oder transported over 100 tonnes of heavy metals in its waters into the Baltic Sea.{{cite book |title = Rocznik statystyczny gospodarki morskiej 2013 |url = http://stat.gov.pl/obszary-tematyczne/roczniki-statystyczne/roczniki-statystyczne/rocznik-statystyczny-gospodarki-morskiej-2013,11,6.html |publisher = Główny Urząd Statystyczny |place = Warszawa |date = 2014-01-21 |pages = 338 |chapter = Tabl. 10.6 Odpływ metali ciężkich rzekami do Morza Bałtyckiego w 2012 r. |quote = "Results of the State Environmental Monitoring in the field of Water Monitoring" by Chief Inspectorate of Environmental Protection |access-date = 18 August 2022 |archive-date = 24 September 2021 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210924183324/https://stat.gov.pl/obszary-tematyczne/roczniki-statystyczne/roczniki-statystyczne/rocznik-statystyczny-gospodarki-morskiej-2013,11,6.html |url-status = live }}{{cite web|url=https://www.gios.gov.pl/en/|title=official statistic|publisher=GIOS|access-date=18 August 2022|archive-date=28 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220728084629/http://www.gios.gov.pl/en|url-status=live}}
Discovery
Fish die-offs were reported by anglers around Oława as early as March 2022. Large die-offs then started again at the end of July 2022.{{citation |url=https://www.dw.com/en/mysterious-mass-fish-kill-in-oder-river-climate-change-or-poison/a-62784099 |title=Mysterious mass fish kill in Oder River: Climate change or poison? |date=12 August 2022 |author=Stuart Braun |publisher=DW News |access-date=17 August 2022 |archive-date=16 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220816180133/https://www.dw.com/en/mysterious-mass-fish-kill-in-oder-river-climate-change-or-poison/a-62784099 |url-status=live }} On 11 August 2022, volunteers and anglers removed at least 10 tonnes of dead fish from the {{cvt|200|km|adj=on}} stretch of the river north of Oława in southwest Poland.{{Cite news |last=Strzelecki |first=Marek |date=11 August 2022 |title=Dead fish in River Oder on Polish/German border spur contamination probe |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/dead-fish-river-oder-polishgerman-border-spur-contamination-probe-2022-08-11/ |access-date=11 August 2022 |archive-date=11 August 2022 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220811171008/https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/dead-fish-river-oder-polishgerman-border-spur-contamination-probe-2022-08-11/ |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |title=Ten tonnes of dead fish hauled out of polluted River Odra |url= https://www.thefirstnews.com/article/ten-tonnes-of-dead-fish-hauled-out-of-polluted-river-odra-32345 |access-date=11 August 2022 |website=www.thefirstnews.com |language=en |archive-date=11 August 2022 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220811205141/https://www.thefirstnews.com/article/ten-tonnes-of-dead-fish-hauled-out-of-polluted-river-odra-32345 |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |url= https://news.sky.com/story/tonnes-of-dead-fish-pulled-from-river-oder-in-poland-as-officials-warn-of-possible-contamination-12670933 |title=Tonnes of dead fish pulled from River Oder in Poland as officials warn of possible contamination |website=Sky News |access-date=12 August 2022 |archive-date=12 August 2022 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220812075152/https://news.sky.com/story/tonnes-of-dead-fish-pulled-from-river-oder-in-poland-as-officials-warn-of-possible-contamination-12670933 |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/poland-investigates-ecological-catastrophe-fish-die-off-8828771 |title=Ecological catastrophe |work=ABCnews.go.com |access-date=13 August 2022}} The discovery was made by local fishermen, as opposed to any regulatory or testing body.{{Cite web |url=https://kobieta.onet.pl/wiadomosci/co-skazilo-rzeke-odre-moze-prawdy-nigdy-sie-nie-dowiemy/kt5zdly |title=Wędkarz znad Odry: "boimy się". Czy poznamy prawdę? |trans-title=Angler from the Odra: "we are afraid". Will we know the truth? |date=11 August 2022 |language=pl |website=OnetKobieta |access-date=12 August 2022 |archive-date=11 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220811181246/https://kobieta.onet.pl/wiadomosci/co-skazilo-rzeke-odre-moze-prawdy-nigdy-sie-nie-dowiemy/kt5zdly |url-status=live}} Other dead animals included beavers and birds.{{cite news |first=Vanessa |last=Gera |title=Poland: 'Huge' amounts of chemical waste dumped into river |date=12 August 2022 |work=ABC News |agency=Associated Press |url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/poland-investigates-ecological-catastrophe-fish-die-off-88287710 |access-date=14 August 2022 |archive-date=13 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220813105905/https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/poland-investigates-ecological-catastrophe-fish-die-off-88287710 |url-status=live }}
Cause
Early on, it was suspected that the cause of the die-off was poisoning by an unknown toxic substance.{{Cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/mass-fish-die-off-german-polish-river-blamed-unknown-toxic-substance-2022-08-12/ |title=Germany and Poland search for cause of mass fish die-off in river Oder |newspaper=Reuters |date=12 August 2022 |via=www.reuters.com |access-date=12 August 2022 |archive-date=13 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220813002223/https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/mass-fish-die-off-german-polish-river-blamed-unknown-toxic-substance-2022-08-12/ |url-status=live}} Water samples taken on 28 July showed a high probability of the presence of the contaminant mesitylene, although the Polish government claimed that it was not present on samples taken after 1 August.{{Cite web |last=S.A |first=Telewizja Polska |title=Mass death of fish in River Oder raises environmental stink |url=https://tvpworld.com/61785992/mass-death-of-fish-in-river-oder-raises-environmental-stink |access-date=11 August 2022 |website=tvpworld.com |language=en |archive-date=11 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220811205125/https://tvpworld.com/61785992/mass-death-of-fish-in-river-oder-raises-environmental-stink |url-status=live}}
A German testing lab had found traces of mercury,{{Cite web |url=https://www.planeta.pl/Wiadomosci/Polska/Odra-skazona.-Niemcy-wykryli-rtec-w-wodzie.-Jest-zabojcza-dla-ludzi-12-08-2022 |title=Wiadomo, co zatruło Odrę! SUBSTANCJA ZABÓJCZO NIEBEZPIECZNA DLA LUDZI |trans-title=It is known what poisoned the Odra River! LETHAL DANGEROUS FOR HUMANS |work=Planeta |date=12 August 2022 |access-date=14 August 2022 |archive-date=13 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220813013015/https://www.planeta.pl/Wiadomosci/Polska/Odra-skazona.-Niemcy-wykryli-rtec-w-wodzie.-Jest-zabojcza-dla-ludzi-12-08-2022 |url-status=dead }} but the Polish government reported that their tests determined that mercury poisoning was not the cause of the die-off. According to them, it was caused by golden algae (likely Prymnesium parvum, which{{Cite web |url=https://www.onet.pl/styl-zycia/whitemad/zatrucie-odry-dziewiec-absurdalnych-watkow-w-tej-sprawie/dpw94tf,30bc1058 |title=Zatrucie Odry. Dziewięć absurdalnych wątków w tej sprawie |trans-title=Odra poisoning. Nine absurd threads on this matter |language=pl |website=www.onet.pl |access-date=12 August 2022 |archive-date=13 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220813013016/https://www.onet.pl/styl-zycia/whitemad/zatrucie-odry-dziewiec-absurdalnych-watkow-w-tej-sprawie/dpw94tf,30bc1058 |url-status=live}} prefer warm salty alkaline waters{{Cite web |url=https://seagrant.psu.edu/sites/default/files/goldenalga2013_reduced_0.pdf |title=den Golden Alga, Prymnesium parvum |trans-title= |language=en |website=Penn State Erie, The Behrend College |access-date=19 August 2022 |archive-date=27 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211227084405/https://seagrant.psu.edu/sites/default/files/goldenalga2013_reduced_0.pdf |url-status=live }}). Researchers at the Leibniz Institute for Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB) have offered an interim hypothesis that the cause was golden algae.{{Cite web |url=https://www.igb-berlin.de/news/umweltkatastrophe-der-oder-igb-forschende-verfolgen-spur-potenziell-giftiger-algen |title=Umweltkatastrophe an der Oder: IGB-Forschende verfolgen Spur potenziell giftiger Algen |trans-title=Environmental disaster on the Oder: IGB researchers follow the trail of potentially toxic algae |work=www.igb-berlin.de |date=17 August 2022 |access-date=22 August 2022 |archive-date=18 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220818224652/https://www.igb-berlin.de/news/umweltkatastrophe-der-oder-igb-forschende-verfolgen-spur-potenziell-giftiger-algen |url-status=live }}
According to the Brandenburg Environment Minister, Axel Vogel, German laboratories believe the fish deaths may have been the result of large amounts of salt in the water.{{Cite web |url=https://wiadomosci.onet.pl/kraj/burza-po-informacji-o-rteci-w-odrze-sa-nowe-wyniki-badan-z-niemiec/914mcfe |title=Rtęć w Odrze? Minister środowiska Brandenburgii: za śmierć ryb odpowiadają raczej ładunki soli |trans-title=Mercury in the Odra? Brandenburg Environment Minister: the salt charges are rather responsible for the deaths of the fish |language=pl |date=12 August 2022 |website=Onet Wiadomości |access-date=12 August 2022 |archive-date=12 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220812220903/https://wiadomosci.onet.pl/kraj/burza-po-informacji-o-rteci-w-odrze-sa-nowe-wyniki-badan-z-niemiec/914mcfe |url-status=live}}
A February 2023 European Commission JRC report, which built on previous formal reports from both Germany and Poland concluded: "The direct cause of the ecological disaster in the Oder River was prymnesin toxins from Prymnesium parvum algae."{{cite book | title=An EU analysis of the ecological disaster in the Oder River of 2022: lessons learned and research based recommendations to avoid future ecological damage in EU rivers, a joint analysis from DG ENV, JRC and the EEA. | publisher=Publications Office of the European Union | doi=10.2760/067386 | date=2023-02-01 | url=https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2760/067386 | access-date=2023-06-21 | page=}}
=Water quality testing=
Data gained via an automatic water quality measuring station in Frankfurt an der Oder (over {{cvt|100|km}} downstream) indicated that from 4 August 2022 the electrical conductivity had climbed anomalously. This data also showed a large change in other water quality parameters. On 7 August 2022, dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity, and UV absorption almost doubled; nitrate levels plummeted and chlorophyll increased by a factor of ten. The water also became more turbid and its pH increased to about 8.8–9.2. This could indicate increased levels of salt in the river,{{Cite web |date=2022-08-12 |title=Odra zatruta. Dlaczego umierają zwierzęta i jakie zmiany zaszły w rzece? |trans-title=Odra poisoned. Why do animals die and what changes have occurred in the river? |url=https://tech.wp.pl/odra-zatruta-dlaczego-umieraja-zwierzeta-i-jakie-zmiany-zaszly-w-rzece,6800593372703712a |access-date=2022-08-17 |website=WP Tech |language=pl |archive-date=16 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220816204100/https://tech.wp.pl/odra-zatruta-dlaczego-umieraja-zwierzeta-i-jakie-zmiany-zaszly-w-rzece,6800593372703712a |url-status=live }} consistent with the conclusion that since 7 August 2022 a huge amount of salt reached the town.{{Cite web |title=Messtation Frankfurt an der Oder |trans-title=Measuring station Frankfurt an der Oder |url=https://lfu.brandenburg.de/lfu/de/aufgaben/wasser/fliessgewaesser-und-seen/gewaesserueberwachung/wasserguetemessnetz/frankfurt-an-der-oder/ |access-date=15 August 2022 |work=lfu.brandenburg.de |archive-date=14 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220814203758/https://lfu.brandenburg.de/lfu/de/aufgaben/wasser/fliessgewaesser-und-seen/gewaesserueberwachung/wasserguetemessnetz/frankfurt-an-der-oder/ |url-status=live }} The pH changes could also support the 'Golden Algae hypothesis'.
Implications
The ecosystem of the river was severely damaged. Scientists are concerned that if the damage was caused by mercury poisoning, detrimental effects could be long term as mercury is a persistent heavy metal.{{Cite web |url=https://tvn24.pl/polska/odra-sniete-ryby-katastrofa-ekologiczna-alicja-pawelec-jesli-faktycznie-jest-to-rtec-to-jest-koniec-ekosystemu-odry-jaki-do-tej-pory-znalismy-6066904 |title="Jeżeli faktycznie jest to rtęć, to koniec ekosystemu Odry, jaki do tej pory znaliśmy" |trans-title="If it is mercury, then the end of the Odra ecosystem as we have known so far" |website=TVN24 |language=pl |access-date=12 August 2022 |archive-date=13 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220813013015/https://tvn24.pl/polska/odra-sniete-ryby-katastrofa-ekologiczna-alicja-pawelec-jesli-faktycznie-jest-to-rtec-to-jest-koniec-ekosystemu-odry-jaki-do-tej-pory-znalismy-6066904 |url-status=live}} There are also potential serious health consequences for humans.{{Cite web |url=https://www.medonet.pl/choroby-od-a-do-z/zatrucia,rtec-w-odrze--lekarze--ryzyko-uszkodzen-narzadow--a-nawet-zgonu,artykul,14361265.html |title=Rtęć w Odrze? Lekarze: ryzyko uszkodzeń narządów, a nawet zgonu |trans-title=Mercury in the Odra? Doctors: risk of organ damage and even death |language=pl |website=medonet.pl |access-date=12 August 2022 |archive-date=13 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220813013015/https://www.medonet.pl/choroby-od-a-do-z/zatrucia,rtec-w-odrze--lekarze--ryzyko-uszkodzen-narzadow--a-nawet-zgonu,artykul,14361265.html |url-status=live}}
Reaction
File:Fischsterben-Oder-Schild_(cropped).jpg
The Prime Minister of Poland Mateusz Morawiecki was put under pressure to act and fired two government officials as a result (the head of the water authority, {{ill|Państwowe Gospodarstwo Wodne Wody Polskie|pl|Państwowe Gospodarstwo Wodne Wody Polskie}}, {{ill|Przemysław Daca|pl|Przemysław Daca}}, and the head of the environmental authority, {{ill|Chief Inspectorate of Environmental Protection|pl|Główny Inspektorat Ochrony Środowiska}}, {{ill|Michał Mistrzak|pl|Michał Mistrzak}}).{{Cite web |url=https://www.msn.com/en-xl/news/other/senior-polish-officials-sacked-after-mass-fish-die-off-in-oder-river/ar-AA10BL6A |title=Senior Polish officials sacked after mass fish die-off in Oder river |website=MSN |access-date=12 August 2022 |archive-date=13 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220813013015/https://www.msn.com/en-xl/news/other/senior-polish-officials-sacked-after-mass-fish-die-off-in-oder-river/ar-AA10BL6A |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |title="Ręce opadają", "Na razie leci dwóch. Czekamy". Komentarze po decyzji Morawieckiego |trans-title="Hands are down", "So far, there are two. We're waiting." Comments following Morawiecki's decision |url=https://wiadomosci.gazeta.pl/wiadomosci/7,114884,28785980,premier-dymisjonuje-za-zanieczyszczenie-odry-polecialy-glowy.html |access-date=2022-08-18 |website=gazetapl |language=pl |archive-date=13 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220813020324/https://wiadomosci.gazeta.pl/wiadomosci/7,114884,28785980,premier-dymisjonuje-za-zanieczyszczenie-odry-polecialy-glowy.html |url-status=live }} This in turn caused internal rifts in the ruling Law and Justice party.{{Cite web |url=https://wiadomosci.gazeta.pl/wiadomosci/7,114884,28786061,gios-nakazal.html |title=Wielkie pretensje do wojewodów po zatruciu Odry. GIOŚ nakazał pilne działania. "A oni nie zrobili nic" |trans-title=Great claims to voivodes after poisoning the Odra River. CIEP ordered urgent actions. "And they did nothing" |language=pl |website=gazetapl |access-date=12 August 2022 |archive-date=13 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220813013017/https://wiadomosci.gazeta.pl/wiadomosci/7,114884,28786061,gios-nakazal.html |url-status=live}}
Local residents reacted negatively to the government's actions,{{Cite web |url=https://noizz.pl/ekologia/magda-mieszka-nad-sama-odra-martwe-ryby-szybko-sie-rozkladaja-wrecz-pekaja/fw1pvgg |title=Magda mieszka nad samą Odrą. "Martwe ryby szybko się rozkładają, wręcz pękają" |trans-title=Magda lives on the Odra itself. "Dead fish decompose quickly, they even burst" |language=pl |website=noizz.pl |date=12 August 2022 |access-date=13 August 2022 |archive-date=13 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220813013019/https://noizz.pl/ekologia/magda-mieszka-nad-sama-odra-martwe-ryby-szybko-sie-rozkladaja-wrecz-pekaja/fw1pvgg |url-status=live}} and, with the state television avoiding reporting on the subject, widespread allegations of a government cover-up began.{{Cite web |url=https://wiadomosci.wp.pl/zatruta-odra-dopiero-w-polowie-czwartkowych-wiadomosci-blyskawiczny-material-6800346869193216a |title=O tym mówi cała Polska. TVP poświęciło 55 sekund |trans-title=All of Poland is talking about it. TVP spent 55 seconds |language=pl |first=Rafał |last=Mrowicki |date=11 August 2022 |website=wiadomosci.wp.pl |access-date=12 August 2022 |archive-date=11 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220811211934/https://wiadomosci.wp.pl/zatruta-odra-dopiero-w-polowie-czwartkowych-wiadomosci-blyskawiczny-material-6800346869193216a |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |url=https://wiadomosci.wp.pl/wiadomosci-tvp-naprawde-to-zrobily-zatruta-odra-jako-pretekst-do-ataku-na-tuska-6800708913818592a |title=Milczeli przez niemal kwadrans. "Wiadomości" TVP naprawdę to zrobiły |trans-title=They were silent for almost a quarter of an hour. TVP's "news" really did it |language=pl |first=Łukasz |last=Kuczera |date=12 August 2022 |website=wiadomosci.wp.pl |access-date=12 August 2022 |archive-date=13 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220813013017/https://wiadomosci.wp.pl/wiadomosci-tvp-naprawde-to-zrobily-zatruta-odra-jako-pretekst-do-ataku-na-tuska-6800708913818592a |url-status=live}} Criticism also fell on the local voivodes.
The Polish opposition blamed the Polish government for reacting slowly to the developing situation, and downplaying the scale of the problem.{{Cite web |last=Rybak |first=Marcin |date=18 August 2022 |title=Z dokumentów WIOŚ wynika, że przedstawiciele rządu kłamali w sprawie katastrofy ekologicznej na Odrze |trans-title=VIEP documents show that government representatives lied about the ecological disaster on the Odra River |url=https://wroclaw.wyborcza.pl/wroclaw/7,35771,28804187,kryzys-na-odrze-wyciekly-dokumenty-wiadomo-kto-klamal.html?_ga=2.209083158.543459705.1660826557-2119345639.1592730206&disableRedirects=true |access-date=2022-08-18 |website=wroclaw.wyborcza.pl |archive-date=22 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220822232635/https://wroclaw.wyborcza.pl/wroclaw/7,35771,28804187,kryzys-na-odrze-wyciekly-dokumenty-wiadomo-kto-klamal.html?_ga=2.209083158.543459705.1660826557-2119345639.1592730206&disableRedirects=true |url-status=live }} The government said the perpetrators would be severely punished, while blaming opposition politicians, in particular Donald Tusk and Rafał Trzaskowski, for exaggerating the issue. The government media has compared the situation to other previous minor and unrelated events in Warsaw and Gdańsk, where the opposition Civic Platform holds power. On 12 August, the deputy minister of infrastructure, {{ill|Grzegorz Witkowski|pl|Grzegorz Witkowski}}, blamed the opposition and the ecologists, and stated that the river was safe to enter, and fishing is allowed.{{Cite web |url=https://wiadomosci.onet.pl/lubuskie/spozniona-reakcja-w-sprawie-odry-wiceminister-uderza-w-trzaskowskiego/3znlc2c |title=Wiceminister Witkowski o spóźnionej reakcji w sprawie Odry. "Bzdura. Trzaskowski zwlekał tydzień" |trans-title=Deputy Minister Witkowski on the delayed reaction in the case of the Odra River. "Nonsense. Trzaskowski delayed by a week" |language=pl |website=wiadomosci.onet.pl |date=12 August 2022 |access-date=13 August 2022 |archive-date=13 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220813013017/https://wiadomosci.onet.pl/lubuskie/spozniona-reakcja-w-sprawie-odry-wiceminister-uderza-w-trzaskowskiego/3znlc2c |url-status=live}} Krystyna Pawłowicz, a Eurosceptic member of the Law and Justice party, has publicly suggested that other countries may be responsible for the contaminations.{{Cite web |url=https://www.o2.pl/informacje/pawlowicz-szuka-sprawcow-zatrucia-odry-szybko-zostala-sprowadzona-na-ziemie-6801269783259648a |url-status=live |language=pl |website=o2.pl |date=14 August 2022 |access-date=14 August 2022 |archive-date=14 August 2022 |title=Pawłowicz szuka sprawców zatrucia Odry. Szybko została sprowadzona na ziemię |trans-title=Pawłowicz is looking for culprits of the Odra poisoning. She was quickly brought down to earth |author=ŁKU |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220814093220/https://www.o2.pl/informacje/pawlowicz-szuka-sprawcow-zatrucia-odry-szybko-zostala-sprowadzona-na-ziemie-6801269783259648a }}
Some anglers fear that fish might never return to the river,{{Cite web |url=https://wiadomosci.onet.pl/tylko-w-onecie/ogromna-skala-katastrofy-ekologicznej-w-odrze-sa-lzy-i-emocje/4m243v5 |title=Odra skażona, wędkarze załamani. "Chce się płakać" |trans-title=Odra contaminated, fishermen are devastated. "One wants to cry" |language=pl |website=wiadomosci.onet.pl |date=12 August 2022 |access-date=13 August 2022 |archive-date=13 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220813013017/https://wiadomosci.onet.pl/tylko-w-onecie/ogromna-skala-katastrofy-ekologicznej-w-odrze-sa-lzy-i-emocje/4m243v5 |url-status=live}} and Steffi Lemke, the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection, called the situation a catastrophe and a shocking ecological disaster.{{Cite web |url=https://next.gazeta.pl/next/7,168930,28786041,niemiecka-minister-jestem-wstrzasnieta-zanosi-sie-na-katastrofe.html |title=Niemiecka ministerka o skażeniu Odry: Jestem wstrząśnięta. Zanosi się na katastrofę ekologiczną |trans-title=German minister on the contamination of the Odra river: I am shocked. It looks like an ecological disaster |website=nextgazetapl |language=pl |access-date=12 August 2022 |archive-date=13 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220813013018/https://next.gazeta.pl/next/7,168930,28786041,niemiecka-minister-jestem-wstrzasnieta-zanosi-sie-na-katastrofe.html |url-status=live}} German officials have also complained about the lack of communication from the Polish officials.{{Cite web |date=2022-08-17 |title=Poland pulls 100 tonnes of dead fish from Oder river after mystery mass die-off |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/aug/17/poland-pulls-100-tonnes-of-dead-fish-from-oder-river-after-mystery-mass-die-off |access-date=2022-08-18 |website=the Guardian |language=en |archive-date=18 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220818124216/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/aug/17/poland-pulls-100-tonnes-of-dead-fish-from-oder-river-after-mystery-mass-die-off |url-status=live }}
Poles are very critical of government reactions, according to polls, in which more than 60% of responders said that they "disapprove of the government's response to the environmental disaster on the Oder River".{{cite news |title =Katastrofa na Odrze. Kto powinien ponieść odpowiedzialność? Sondaż dla "Faktów" TVN |trans-title =The disaster on the Oder river. Who Should Be Responsible? Poll for "Faktów" TVN |url =https://fakty.tvn24.pl/ogladaj-online,60/katastrofa-na-odrze-kto-powinien-poniesc-odpowiedzialnosc-sondaz-dla-faktow-tvn-i-tvn24,1115609.html |date =18 August 2022 |website =tvn24.pl |access-date =22 August 2022 |archive-date =18 August 2022 |archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20220818184355/https://fakty.tvn24.pl/ogladaj-online,60/katastrofa-na-odrze-kto-powinien-poniesc-odpowiedzialnosc-sondaz-dla-faktow-tvn-i-tvn24,1115609.html |url-status =live }}{{cite news |title =Sondaż: 60,5 proc. Polaków źle ocenia działania rządu ws. katastrofy na Odrze |trans-title =Poll: 60.5 percent Poles have a bad opinion of the government's actions regarding the disaster on the Odra River |url =https://www.rp.pl/polityka/art36906751-sondaz-60-5-proc-polakow-zle-ocenia-dzialania-rzadu-ws-katastrofy-na-odrze |date =21 August 2022 |website =rp.pl |access-date =22 August 2022 |archive-date =22 August 2022 |archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20220822232635/https://www.rp.pl/polityka/art36906751-sondaz-60-5-proc-polakow-zle-ocenia-dzialania-rzadu-ws-katastrofy-na-odrze |url-status =live }}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Commons category-inline}}
- [https://biqdata.wyborcza.pl/biqdata/7,159116,28796195,katastrofa-ekologiczna-na-odrze-kalendarium-i-mapy.html?_ga=2.45477920.543459705.1660826557-2119345639.1592730206 Summary including timeline and a map related to the event (Polish)]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Oder}}
Category:2022 in the environment
Category:2022 disasters in Germany
Category:2022 disasters in Poland
Category:August 2022 in Germany
Category:August 2022 in Poland
Category:Environmental disasters in Poland
Category:Waste disposal incidents
Category:Germany–Poland relations
Category:Pollution events in 2022