Moldovan Environment Minister Gheorghe Hadjder recommended not to consume fish from the Dniester River, stating that the fish may have been affected by petroleum products, UNN writes with reference to TVR Moldova.
Details
Hadjder announced that the National Agency for Food Safety will take samples from the Dniester to check whether the fish was contaminated after the oil crisis, even though the situation on the river has stabilized. At the same time, the official reminded that a fishing ban came into force on April 1 and will last until June 15 to protect water resources.
According to the official, fishing is still prohibited, but the risks do not end there. Fish may have inhaled pollutants since the beginning of the crisis, raising questions about consumption safety.
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"A priori, fishing is prohibited, but given that fish may have inhaled these substances at the very beginning of the crisis on the Dniester, it is recommended not to consume fish from the Dniester for at least the next few months," Hadjder said.
In this context, the authorities will seek assistance from the National Agency for Food Safety, which is to take samples from several sections of the river. The purpose of these checks is to determine whether the fish was contaminated and to what extent there are risks to consumer health.
The Moldovan authorities urge citizens to adhere to restrictions and recommendations until analyses are completed and the safety of fish products from the Dniester is confirmed.
Earlier, the Moldovan authorities announced that the situation on the Dniester had stabilized and that they would not extend the previously established state of alert.
Addition
On March 15, an environmental alert was introduced in Moldova due to the pollution of the Dniester. According to the country's authorities, the cause was an oil spill in the area of the Dniester HPP in Ukraine, which occurred as a result of a Russian attack. The pollution spread downstream already on the territory of Moldova. In several settlements in the north of the country, the supply of drinking water was suspended. Water supply, according to NewsMaker, began to be restored on the evening of March 19.