| |
PCB Alert
US forces caught stocking
PCB at Turkish base
National press reports discovery
of "scandal secret US PCB depot"
March 27, 1997
A Turkish military investigation conducted at the US air base in Incirlik,
Adana, has revealed a vast area toxicated by a US stockpile of Polychlorinated
Biphenyl (PCB). The base, used by allied craft during the Gulf War and instrumental
in safeguarding north of the 36th parallel in north Iraq, borders one of
Turkey's larger provinces and is within the boundaries of the settlement.
According to reports in the Turkish national press on Thursday, March
27, 1997, the waste PCB was stocked throughout an area of 5.080 square meters
and constitutes a serious health hazard. According official documents obtained
and quoted by the Turkish language Zaman newspaper (http://www.zaman.com),
the PCB was initially discovered during an investigation at the facility
in 1996 but because of the seriousness of the situation, it continued in
secrecy until this date. On February 18, 1997, the Zaman reported, officials
of the Turkish Foreign Ministry, Ministry of Ecology and other relevant
organizations held a meeting with military representatives to determine
how to clean the toxicated area.
Results of this meeting showed a contamination above the acceptable 1ppm
dose of PCB in an area of 5.080 square meters. A decision was hence taken
to dig 100 cm into the ground, remove the contaminated soil and following
careful packaging, move it to competant facilities abroad for it to be burned.
Following this, work will begin to rehabilitate the contaminated area.
Meanwhile, results of scientific work have shown that the overall tap
water system in Adana, a highly populated city, have been affected with
PCB contamination and that measures will have to be taken to clean and filter
the water as well.
Translated and Reported by Ismet Imset
journalist, London |
|
