Central Russian town faces threat of mercury contamination - TV
Kostroma faces a threat of an environmental disaster. The city's mercury storehouse which contains about half a
tonne of this dangerous substance is in a very bad state of repair. The concentration of mercury [in the soil] near the
storehouse is several times higher than the permissible level.
The storehouse has recently been banned from receiving mercury and city residents no longer know where to dispose
broken thermometers or bulbs which contain mercury. These are now simply thrown away with other refuse.
This situation may lead to most unpredictable consequences - the dangerous metal is penetrating into the soil and it
will remain there forever. Environmentalists are raising the alarm and are calling for immediate solution to the
problem. However, the city budget does not have enough funds to repair the storehouse and the problem can be resolved
only with the use of federal funding.
[Video shows the storehouse, people examining containers.]
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