Several types of vegetables grown on the banks of the Bâc River contain lead and exceeding levels of nitrates. The National Agency for Public Health, which has taken samples downstream of the wastewater treatment plant of Chișinău municipality and Țânțăreni village, has found that the river water cannot be used for fish farming, recreational and irrigation activities.
The investigated beet sample showed that the permissible level of lead is exceeded by 0.04 mg/kg and the nitrate content is exceeded by 502 mg/kg (0.5 times higher). The onion sample showed that the nitrate permissible content is exceeded by 6 mg/kg, while the lead level is within the permissible limits. No excess of nitrate or lead content was detected in cabbage samples.
According to the results of the investigations, in terms of sanitary-chemical parameters, the water is highly polluted on that segment of the river. The maximum permissible concentrations of heavy metals such as nickel, copper, zinc, cadmium and lead were no exceeded.
The National Agency for Public Health said that polluted water from that segment of the river is used for irrigation purposes by natural persons, contrary to national legislation. Authorizations for special water use have not been submitted.
Additionally, three parallel samples were taken in order to determine the concentration of lead in atmospheric air. The result of the laboratory research indicates that permissible levels are not exceeded.
However, there is evidence of exceeding values of heavy metals in mud and soil samples from the control points. The limit on lead content is exceeded 1.6 times. According to ANSP, it is possibly that clandestine production of toxic metal compounds occurs on the Bâc River segment near Țânțăreni village, which will further pollute the environment.
