Poisonous dam in Izmir – Last Minute Environment, Cumhuriyet’in Aegean News

State Hydraulic Works (DSI) revived the Çamlı Dam project, which was put forward in 1984 but was suspended due to the Efemçukuru Gold Mine, to Izmir, which was faced with a water problem and could not provide the promised water. While the project, which was accepted by the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Final Report and the Review and Evaluation Commission (IDK) of the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, is expected to meet the needs of approximately 300 thousand people, the risk of water pollution from the gold mine, which continues to operate by increasing its capacity right next to it, worries experts.

THERE ARE HEAVY METALS IN THE SOIL DUE TO MINE

Izmir Medical Chamber Secretary General Dr. asked about the concerns about whether the dam will be clean or not. Yüce Ayhan, Public Health Specialist Prof. Dr. He shared Ali Osman Karababa’s information notes. In the notes; “The geological structure of the area where the Efemçukuru gold mine is located is considered as a ‘sulphide mineral’ according to our geologist friends. Again, according to their explanation, any mining attempt in this region will cause a process called “acid rock drainage”. In other words, the composite structures of heavy metals and metalloids (arsenic, antimony, lead, mercury, iron, chromium, cobalt, etc.) in compound structure deteriorate and turn into elemental form and interfere with natural cycles, negatively affecting all living things, especially human health.”

THE RISK OF MANY DISEASES, ESPECIALLY CANCER

In the information notes, which include the dangers of these heavy metals for public health, it is stated that “The effects on human health, especially cancers in different organs and tissues; dysfunctions in the liver, kidneys and lungs; We can summarize these as diseases of the nervous system, cardiovascular system, reproductive system and immune system. There is also a large amount of waste (soil that is not economically usable, etc.) in the mining area, and acid mine drainage takes place within the waste. In addition, there are solid and liquid wastes from the ore enrichment process carried out in the enterprise, which can cause environmental pollution and lead to the health effects mentioned above. “For these reasons summarized, since the mining operation is located in the water collection basin of the permitted dam, the possibility of chemical pollutants being present in the collected water is very high.”

MINING PERMIT FROM THE MINISTRY FOR THE WATER BASIN

On the other hand, the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change decided that ‘EIA is not required’ regarding the quarry project to be built in the area close to Gördes Gölmarmara Sub-Basin Groundwater Operation Site and Sarıkız springs in Manisa, which meets the water needs of İzmir. It is planned to open a sand gravel quarry with an annual capacity of 75 thousand tons in the region, which is located within the 2nd Degree Protected Area.