Since Friday, about 300 kilograms of the substance imidazole from the chemical company BASF have flowed into the Rhine.
Ludwigshafen – For an as yet unknown cause, about 300 kilograms of the substance imidazole have flowed into the Rhine since Friday.
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The chemical company BASF in Ludwigshafen. About 300 kilograms of a chemical substance are said to have flowed into the Rhine. © Uwe Anspach / dpa
As the chemical company BASF reported in Ludwigshafen on Saturday, there were increased concentrations of imidazole in the effluent from the BASF sewage treatment plant.
A company spokesman said experts were on hand to determine the exact cause of the emission.
The plant for the production of the raw material in the manufacture of pharmaceutical and cosmetic products had been shut down as a precaution, the responsible authorities were informed.
Imidazole is classified in water hazard class 2, which means that it is clearly hazardous to water.
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Due to the amount leaked and the dilution in the Rhine, a risk to aquatic organisms cannot be assumed, it said.
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After a water-polluting substance leaked into the Rhine, the chemical company BASF found the cause. “Experts have identified the source of the emissions and stopped,” said a company spokesman on Sunday in Ludwigshafen. The leak was caused by the interaction of several subsystems and wastewater flows.
The increased concentrations were measured in the outlet from the BASF sewage treatment plant. Thereupon the plant for the production of the raw material for the production of pharmaceutical and cosmetic products was shut down. Due to the amount leaked and the dilution in the Rhine, according to BASF, there is no risk to aquatic organisms. After solving the problem, the system should now be started up again, it was said on Sunday.
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