Notable case, Neratovice, Středočeský kraj, Czechia
Spolana Neratovice
A chemical works on the bank of the Elbe, north of Prague. In the 1960s it made chlorinated pesticides, including DDT and 2,4,5-T, with dioxins as a by-product; in August 2002 it was flooded by the river.
At a glance
- Status
- Remediation under way
- Activity
- since 1898
- Media
- soil, groundwater, surface water
- Kind of site
- chemical works, agrochemicals
Contaminants
Metals
Organic compounds
Status
Remediation under way
Mercury-cell electrolysis was shut down on 30 November 2017; in 2020–2021 clean-up of the unit removed 23,366 tonnes of contaminated waste holding about 23 tonnes of mercury. The entry we read does not describe the outcome of the clean-up of the dioxin-contaminated buildings. The works, now owned by ORLEN Unipetrol, is still operating.
Story
The factory began in 1898 making soap and candles, was nationalised in 1945 and took the name Spolana in 1950. In the 1960s it started producing chlorinated pesticides, DDT above all, and compounds containing 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid, the component of Agent Orange; dioxins formed as an unwanted by-product of this work. Between 1970 and 1976 the works was expanded with new PVC, chlorine and sulphuric acid units.
On 14 and 15 August 2002 water from the Elbe reached the works. There was an explosion and a chlorine leak, contained in about ninety minutes, with a level-three chemical alert.
Timeline
- 1898The factory is founded.
- 1950The Spolana name is adopted.
- 200214–15 August: flooding and chlorine leak.
- 201730 November: mercury-cell electrolysis ends.
- 2021Removal of the mercury-contaminated waste is completed.
Remediation
- 2020decommissioning and waste removalRemoval of 23,366 tonnes of waste from the mercury electrolysis unit (2020–2021).
From the literature
Species that acted on one of this site's contaminants in at least one study. The list is automatic and takes no account of this site's soil, concentrations or climate.
Plants
- Cucurbita pepoZucchini, pumpkinDDT and breakdown productsDioxins and furansEvidence: field
- Eichhornia crassipesWater hyacinthEvidence: field
- Ricinus communisCastor beanDDT and breakdown productsEvidence: greenhouse
- Azolla carolinianaCarolina mosquito fernEvidence: laboratory
Fungi
- Phanerochaete chrysosporiumDDT and breakdown productsDioxins and furansEvidence: laboratory
- Aspergillus nigerBlack mouldEvidence: laboratory
- Fomitopsis pinicolaRed-belted conkDDT and breakdown productsEvidence: laboratory
- Gloeophyllum trabeumDDT and breakdown productsEvidence: laboratory
- Phlebia brevisporaDioxins and furansEvidence: laboratory
- Pleurotus pulmonariusPhoenix oyster, Indian oysterPesticides (mixed)Evidence: laboratory
The rest are on the contaminant pages.
Nearby
Notable case, Thüringen, Germany
Ronneburg (Wismut uranium mining district)
177 km
- Uranium
- Radium
- Radionuclides (mixed)
PhytoremediationMycoremediation
Notable case, Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany
Bitterfeld-Wolfen
214 km
- Chlorobenzenes
- Chlorinated solvents (TCE, PCE, chloroform)
- Vinyl chloride
- BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes)
PhytoremediationMicrobial bioremediation
Notable case, Remlingen (Wolfenbüttel), Germany
Asse II salt mine
341 km
- Radionuclides (mixed)
- Tritium
- Plutonium
- Uranium