Cancer risk due to mercury Several investigations of the soils surrounding the natural gas production facilities

Natural gas production Cause of increased mercury pollution and increased cancer?
After an evaluation of the data of the Epidemiological Cancer Registry of Lower Saxony (EKN) in the past year had significantly increased cancer in the municipality Bothel in the district of Rotenburg and here a connection with the release of mercury in the natural gas production was suspected, should now the soils in the vicinity of the natural gas production facilities be examined in detail for possible pollution.

On Monday, the State Office for Mining, Energy and Geology (LBEG), according to the announcement of the "North German Broadcasting Corporation" (NDR) began with the investigation of soils in the district of Rotenburg. Seven samples were taken in the vicinity of the production site at Bothel. The samples are now being tested for pollutants such as mercury, lead, benzene and dioxins, reports Björn Völlmar from LBEG to the "NDR". It also searches for traces of radioactivity near the drilling sites. The soil investigations were commissioned by the Lower Saxony Ministry of Economics, Labor and Transport and the Ministry of the Environment, Energy and Climate Protection. The investigations are not limited to the municipality of Bothel, but in total to be sampled at 200 of the 455 Lower Saxony funding agencies, according to the announcement of the "NDR". The first results are expected to be presented in autumn.

The soil in the vicinity of the natural gas production sites in Lower Saxony is being tested for mercury and other solids. (Image: goghy73 / fotolia.com)

Systematic study of soils in the field of natural gas production
Soil samples taken at depths of up to 30 centimeters deep in the vicinity of the extraction sites are taken for soil testing, which can then be examined in the laboratory. If increased values ​​occur at one point, "then we will immediately begin further detailed investigations there," explains Björn Völlmar. "The concerns of the citizens are taken very seriously," adds the LBEG President Andreas Sikorski in the contribution of the "NDR". Kathrin Otte from the non-profit network for the sick in the environment emphasizes, however, that the systematic investigation of the extraction places is a long overdue step. Only the increased cancer rates in Bothel have caused the authorities to this. The EKN had a significantly higher incidence of leukemias and lymphomas in men in Bothel. According to the "NDR", increased cancer rates were also recently detected in the neighboring district town of Rotenburg. To what extent a connection with the illnesses in Bothel exists, is however still unclear. The ongoing investigations are intended to shed light on the causes of the increased cancer rates.

According to the "NDR", further soil samples will also be collected in the districts of Aurich, Celle, Cloppenburg, Diepholz, Emsland, Grafschaft Bentheim, Heidekreis, Leer, Nienburg, Oldenburg, Vechta and Verden in the coming months, as well as in the city of Emden and the Hanover region taken. The results of the investigations are eagerly awaited, especially as comprehensive health risks for the population were ignored for years to come. (Fp)