You're reading: Greenpeace: pollutant concentrations in Moskva River much higher than norm

Greenpeace Russia activists have discovered that the Moskva River has excessive concentrations of pollutants that jeopardize flora, fauna and even Muscovites.

“Concentrations of manganese, copper, aluminum and strontium in the Moskva River are much higher than the norm. These pollutants harm not only the fish and plants but also the health of city residents,” Greenpeace said on Monday.

The environmentalists published the results of testing the Moskva River samples collected by their “water patrol” this June.

“Safe concentrations of heavy metals, aluminum, sulfur and petroleum products were exceeded in all ten samples that were studied at the laboratory,” Greenpeace said.

It added that the tests were made at accredited laboratories, ROSA and the Water Research and Control Center.

“Mercury concentrations were 20 times higher than normal in water samples taken near the Kuryanovo and Lyubertsy sewage treatment plants,” it said.

“In spite of the discovered pollution, discharges into the Mosvka River appeared to be cleaner than those in the rivers of St. Petersburg,” the report said.

Greenpeace said it would send the test results to Rosprirodnadzor, Rospotrebnadzor, the environmental and consumers’ rights watchdogs, respectively, and the Moscow prosecutor’s office.

“The only solution is the “zero discharge” principle, which implies completely avoiding the formation of dangerous substances during industrial processes,” the environmentalists said.