HUGE ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTER

The Cyprus Mines Corporation (CMC) was formed in 1916 and started producing copper ore the first, from Skouriotissa mine and than at Lefke and Mavrovouni around 1920, and left all of mines in 1975. During this process, often large amounts of heavy metals in tailing ponds spreaded toxic materials up in the environment. Sources of heavy metals in the soil include many materials used as fertilizer, deposition of industrial emissions and abandoned mines. CMC area includes tailing ponds, the processing residues present on site and the chemicals currently stored on-site area an ongoing source of contamination with heavy metals, sulfate, nitrate, acidity and potentially compounds and syanide.

HISTORY OF CMC

The first known written documents of Cyprus's history is about the Copper Mines which were sent to Egypt. Historians always discuss if the name of Cyprus is coming from copper or the name of copper is coming from Cyprus. It doesn't matter which one is correct, the relation between Cyprus and Copper have more other meanings than names. Because of its natural wealthness and strategical position Cyprus was under the control of many different civilisations for centuries. English administration is the one of them.

The story of the Cyprus Mines Corporation began with an American mining engineer, Charles Godfrey Gunther's exploration that showed, there was a good opportunity in the Skouriotissa area for mining copper and gold ore. The owners of one of the mine companies in USA were interested in those ore deposits in Cyprus by the encouragement of Gunther, and they came to this area in 1913. That company took their permission from British Government. In March 1916, CMC, Cyprus Mines Corporation was formally launched. As the CMC facility grew the local people began to work for the American company. At the beginning, there was 350 local people working there. During those days, Lefke had become an important central town for economic and social activities in the Northeastern part of the island. Increasing economic activity in the region, attracted population from various parts of the island, increased social activity and hence resulted in a high growth rate of regional income. In 1926, CMC built its main jetty at Gemikonağı, which is in ruins now. While the company was enlarging the number of employees increased to 6000.

After CMC left the Island, it left behind deposits exposed to the environment, resulting harm to surrounding soils and the seashore. Because of the million tons of mining waste concentrated around the abandoned mines, the facility created thread for the whole Lefke Area. The existence of the hazardous wastes are imposing serious constrains on possible investment alternatives on scarce land resources of Lefke as well as of the whole country.

PROBLEMS

1.Pollution:

Lefke and Gemikonagı which are located in the west of Cyprus are very popular with their citrus fruits and their green environment. However it is threatened with toxic mine remaining and environmental massacre it produces. CMC had been working with mine for 58 years in Cyprus and in January 1975 they left the island suddenly in one night. They left behind 10 million tones of toxic remainings. These turned Lefke and Gemikonagi into a death valley. These toxic remainings affect the health of local people and animals in this areas. Also they affect the plants, underground water and the sea every day. The sea in Lefke-Gemikonagi area is not blue as it is supposed to be, instead it is red because of the remainings of CMC. The dirty situation of the sea becomes apparent in particularly rainy days as the rain transfers these remainings into the sea.

a)Water Pollution: Gemikonagi Puddle got its share from the mine remainings and therefore it is polluted and contains many wastes. First of all, the puddle is in a wrong location and it contains very heavy metals, it is very toxic and it cannot be used for drinking or watering. Specialists reported that it is very unhealthy to use this water in agriculture. But, despite this everyday tones of water are used in agriculture. People use this water for watering citrus fruits in Lefke and Guzelyurt. Many vegetables and fruits are being grown in this area and they are used in human consumption. Specialists stated that it is very wrong and harmful to use this metal containing water in these areas. In Lefke-Karadag area where CMC copper mine is derived, the scene is very horrible as other places that are affected by CMC such as Gemikonagi Puddle, which has been created for drinking and using the water for other areas. There are a lot of mine whells that are dug in that place. The drinking water is obtained from the other wells that are located near the toxic ones therefore they are affected by dangerous mines. The risk of appearence toxic materials in drinking water is very high. The researchers detected that water in the wells and in the puddle are affected from heavy metals.

Table 1: Results of waste analyses: (Tailing Ponds of wastes are numbered according to an order from Karadağ region to Gemikonağı region.) (Resource ALTINBAŞ,Ü.-1999)

b)Soil Pollution: In this region, kilometers of area are occupied by mining wastes. Therefore, for years there are no flowers, bushes and no plants which could show that there is life. The most beautiful area and drinking and tap waters of the region are under the risk of being influenced from toxics because of the mining wastes and the heavy metals which are still there. The environmental disaster which was caused by CMC is written by experts again and again but there isn't any improvement and effort to prevent it. There are 12 tailing ponds which mean 12 toxic pools in Gemikonağı CMC region. Toxic materials are mixing with soil and cause many problems. The heavy metals which are completely harmful are shown on the table above. The wastes which have a green-like color make you wonder.

2.Health Problems Caused by CMC:

Results of some expriments, show that Gemikonağı lake is not suitable for life. It is containing heavy metals like Iron, Cooper and manganese that was justifed with water analysis. The all, 40 thousand fishes were dead that was put into the lake in 1995. After this unsuccessful experiment, more experiments were done with another type of fishes. At the second experiment, these fishes were live and grew enormously. The people around the lake caught these fishes without caring the mine and poison in the water. It is still discussing whether these fishes are healthy or not.

a)Arsenic: Maximum Concentration Level (MCL) : 0.010mg/L

If exposed to low levels of arsenic for an extended period of time it may cause a discoloration of skin, the appearance of corns or warts, decreased nerve conduction velocity, and various forms of cancer affecting skin, lungs , digestive track, liver, bladder, and/or kidneys.

Arsenic also has potential to affect the lymphatic and blood systems One disease related to arsenic is Blackfoot's Disease which is a disorder of peripheral blood vessels. High level exposure to arsenic may even lead to death. Natural soil concentrations of arsenic in all forms, is between 0.1 and 40 mg/kg. Average background concentration of arsenic is 5-6 mg/kg

b)Zinc: MCL Not Available

 Short term exposure to Zinc may lead to stomach cramps, nausea and vomiting.

 Long term exposure to high levels may cause anemia, damage to the pancreas, and decrease levels of lipoprotein cholesterol.

 Excess Zinc in ones body can also lead to the development of a copper deficiency as a result of the interactions within the body.

 Zinc has moderate bioaccumulation potential in aquatic organisms and does not magnify in the food chain.

 Zinc constitute about 20-200 ppm of the earths crust and background concentrations of Zinc in most waters is less than 0.05 mg/L

c)Cadmium: MCL = 0.005 m/L

 Ingesting high levels of cadmium may lead to stomach irritation, vomiting, diarrhea, an even death.

 It also causes kidney damage and may be linked to some forms of cancer.

 Cadmium is relatively insoluble.

 Some of the element binds to the soil and some stays in solution.

 It can stay in ones body for years and can also change forms within the body. The average background level of Cadmium in unpolluted spill is about 250 ppb and its highest levels are found in leafy vegetables and potatoes

d)Copper: MCL = 1.3 mg/L

 Short term exposure to copper may lead to gastrointestinal distress, decreased hemoglobin and erythrocyte levels in the blood (anemia), impaired immune systems an even impotence. High doses of Cu may be potentially deadly.

e)Lead : MCL = 0.015 mg/L

 Children under the age six are especially at risk to lead poisoning and may have slowed development and reduced growth as a result of ingesting even small amounts of lead as their bodies absorb 50% of all that they ingest.

 Other effects of lead poisoning include brain and kidney damage as well as gastrointestinal distress from short term high level exposure.

 Long term exposure to lead affects the blood, central nervous system, blood pressure, and vitamin D metabolism.

 It may also lead to reduced sperm count and spontaneous abortions. Lead is very persistent and bioaccumulates in the environment.

SHORT- TERM PRECAUTIONS TAKEN BY THE MINISTRY

 People and animals are not let to pass without control into Lefke-Gemikonağı area.This area is surrounded with wires and sign boards.

 The public was warned not to catch fish, not to graze animals and not to wander around these toxic places. Growing vegetables and feeding animals near these places are banned.

 The underground water, ground water, sea water, soil, plant,and animal samples are being tested in laboratories and the public will be informed about the results of these tests.

 The remainings of ponds and other harmful things are being cleaned.

 The drainage system of ponds are going to work again, and the waste water is going to be assembled into empty ponds.

 The map of pollution is going to be made and then trees will be planted to avoid erosion.

 Sample from the piles of toxic gold remainings will be examined to determine the risk of chemicals.

 They are going to work on remaining pollutants between the road and 19th pond.

 The pollution in Gemikonagi Puddle is going to be controlled continuously and precautions will be taken according to the condition in the puddle.

 The region which is located opposite the Yeni Karadag miner houses and the shooting area that has mine wastes is going to be replanted.

 The surface water drainage system which passes and collects waste water from the region will be repaired.

 The puddle water which is formed on the Karadag underground mine galleries wastes will be examined continuously..

 The waste water from the CMC will be collected in waste ponds located in Gemikonağı, in pumping station and will be transfered to a permeable area.

 Improvements will be made in Lefke River Reservoir

 They will work on the fisibility of the reservoir canal project that is located on the shore region between the working area and the road.

 They are going to dig wells in order to make observations and examine the underground waters.

THE PRECAUTIONS WHICH MUST BE TAKEN IN LEFKE-GEMIKONAGI REGION

 Swimming in the sea and eating the fish which were fished from the sea must be stopped until the scientific searching is finished.

 The analyses about the fishes caught in this sea must be finished soon.

 Especially not only the water analysis of Gemikonağı lake and boreholes around the lake must be regularly done in order to be sure that the level of dangerous minerals are not exceeding the health limits. Also water, plant, and soil analyses must be done regularly too.

 The status of the underground water which is in Lefke-Gemikonağı settlement region and its flowing direction , speed and pollution status must be identified.

 The measurement of the harmful materials in the air must be started and the density, contents and etc. of these materials must be identified.

 All explanations that may make panic on the local people must be avoided.

 We have to inform the other environmental organizations of the world about CMC to be able to take help and financial supports to solve this huge problem.

 Since the problem is so crucial, between the disciplines and organizations there must be a closed relation. In addition to that, the solution also requires huge amounts of funds.

 This is an environmental, water, health and most importantly a humanity problem.

Photos

The bird which drank water from that toxic place died.

When it rained the toxic heavy metals from soil mixed with rain water. Look at this HORRIBLE view!

The discolorations caused by ions in the dried river.

Burcu YAGLI & Merve S ZEDEN

Coordonating teachers: Hulya SENOL & Elcin E TUNCERGİL