SERBIA: Serbian residents blame petrochemical complex for high levels of pollution and health problems

Record ID: 216847

  • Title: SERBIA: Serbian residents blame petrochemical complex for high levels of pollution and health problems
  • Date: 30th November 2006
  • Summary: (CEEF) PANCEVO, SERBIA (NOVEMBER 28, 2006) (REUTERS) TRAFFIC IN THE STREETS OF PANCEVO/ STREETS COVERED IN FOG PEOPLE WALKING ENTRANCE AT PANCEVO HOSPITAL/PARENTS ARRIVING WITH THEIR CHILDREN VARIOUS OF PARENT WAITING WITH CHILDREN IN HOSPITAL HALLWAY A TODDLER GETTING INHALATION THERAPY CLOSE UP OF TODDLER INHALING LUNG SPECIALIST STANISA BAUMANN, WRITING A REPORT WHILE
  • Embargoed: 15th December 2006 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Serbia
  • Country: Serbia
  • Topics: Health,Industry
  • Reuters ID: LVA7CEZYVSXR1QVHCY6BHPD71PM1
  • Story Text: The citizens of Pancevo, an industrial town some 20km from the Serbian capital Belgrade, have for years put up with the emissions coming from a socialist-era industrial complex.
    This month, an all-night alert sparked by a thick gas cloud of chemicals was the last straw, driving people to protest with roadblocks and demonstrations on an almost daily basis.
    Activist groups say the complex, comprising Serbia's second-biggest oil refinery, a plastics factory and a fertiliser plant should be either closed or modernised before it is too late.
    "Over the last 15 days, hundreds of kids are taking special medicines and going on inhalation therapy. We have decided to block the road to the refinery's refuelling station because that is a major issue both for the refinery and the state," said Jelena Stanizin, one of the organisers of the protest.
    The pollution is worst when there is no wind to blow away the pale-red mist, and the levels of benzene, sulphur and other chemicals have been found to be many times over the legal limits.
    Local health authorities say the chemical cloud is taking its toll on the health of Pancevo's 130,000 citizens. Children are the worst affected and many have to receive special treatment of steam inhalations.
    "We have had a significant increase in the number of children coming into the hospital with respiratory problems. It's not normal to have two to three emergency cases every day, mainly toddlers but also adults," said Stanisa Baumann, a lung specialist at Pancevo hospital.
    The government, which plans to sell the complex off at a tender next year, refutes charges of neglect.
    "We have invested intensively over the past few years in the reconstruction and the modernisation of the complex in Pancevo. We have even received independent advice from the European Agency for Reconstruction and they said that in their career they have not seen a state refinery in such good condition," said Miroslav Nikcevic, the director of Serbia's office for environmental protection.
    The complex was heavily bombarded during the 1999 NATO bombing of Serbia and leaked chemicals which caused the area to be designated as an environmental hazard. Residents say the repairs made since then are simply not enough and they plan to continue their protests.
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