RioTinto QMM : When the Water is No Good (5)

Behind the RioTinto QMM production plant, pipes silently discharge water into the young forest nearby and joins open canals by the road. We took a sample of that water as well and left the Anosy Region. All four water samples were sent to ICP-MS (Inductively-Coupled Plasma – Mass Spectrometry) Metals Lab in the United States (Utah) for analysis.

Rosaly, 90ans, a commencée sa journée à 5h du matin. Les poissons se font rares dans le lac. Après 2h de labeur, la pêche ne suffira même pas pour un petit déjeuné.

In addition to the four water samples taken downstream from the mine, the laboratory acquired five upstream water samples, each having been analyzed for 46 elements and isotopes. The results are alarming, harmful concentrations of aluminum, arsenic, iron, lead, manganese, thorium and uranium have been detected.

D’autres pêcheurs se sont reconverti en bucherons. Grumes d’arbres – kininy bonaky – en cours de préparation pour être transportées vers Taolagnaro.

The average uranium concentration in downstream water samples was 0.049 mg / L – 63% higher than the WHO (World Health Organization) guideline of 0.03 mg / L and compared to 0.00014 mg / L upstream. While the water from the infiltrations to Lake Ambavarano showed a shocking shock 87 times more iron and 98 times more aluminum than the average recommended for aquatic life and the drinking water standards of EPA respectively (US Environmental Protection Agency). (4)

 

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