TISZA-DANUBE

“Water Chernobyl”

Cyanide

Toxic chemical that is used in

mining and other industries

Cyanide

Cyanide was used in Romania at a mining operation

Separates gold from rock After it is used it was stored

behind a dam

January 30,2000 Rain swelled the pond and it

reached a dangerously high level The dam burst releasing 100,000

cubic meters of cyanide water into the Szamos River

Equivalent to 30 Olympic pools

Szamos River in Romania Went across Hungary and

entered the Tisza River Tisza empties into the Danube Went across Serbia,

Montenegro, and Bulgaria and then into the Black Sea

Effects

Dead fishKilled 200 tons of fish

Hundreds of otters

Fish-eating birds died

Effects

Other animals that ate or drank from the water died.

Effects

Affected the water supply of 2.5 million people

Shut down water systems

Effects

Warned people to stay away from water

Canceled trips to area

Did not last long Breaks down in sunlight When reached the Danube – no

longer toxic to fish Take years for the river to “get

back to normal”

Other Sources of Water Pollution

Mining Farming – chemicals and

fertilizers Boats factories

Efforts to Reduce Water Pollution

Different groups working on helping the Danube in the future

“Danube Day”

Tisza-DanubeA Burst Dam Releases Deadly Chemicals Write the name of the country that was the source of the

water pollution. On the map, color the source of the water pollution.

Then complete this sentence: Accidental water pollution occurred when…

Cyanide Flows into the Danube River System Summarize how the pollution spread. Names two

countries most affected by the pollution. Then complete this sentence: One consequence of the

spread of water pollution across borders was…

Efforts to Reduce Water Pollution Describe one effort to reduce water pollution. Then

complete this sentence: _______________________ help to reduce water pollution by…