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The Toxic truth
annex I
Nevertheless, the knowledge that we have regarding the composition of the waste indicates the following when estimating the potential effects on the environment:
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Given how strongly alkaline the waste was, there would be a considerable risk to both people and wildlife in the immediate vicinity if either had any direct contact with it.
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Rainfall or contact with surface water could result in further dispersion of the waste, creating a significant risk downstream of the initial location as the highly alkaline mixture migrated. Contact with and/or consumption of water substantially contaminated with the waste could have serious consequences for humans or wildlife.
Plateau Dokui
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Knowledge about the composition of the waste gained from the NFI analysis implies that perhaps the most relevant impacts on the environment would be of an acute rather than chronic nature, arising from the highly alkaline nature of the waste and high levels of mercaptans or phenols released if there had been a significant decrease of the pH levels, even if only in a proportion of the waste.
Abobo Cleaning truck at lavage Gros Trou33
Cleaning truck at Lavage Coco Service37 Cleaning truck at Lavage Coco Service
Notes to the table: This table is developed mainly based on the written statements of the nine truck drivers to Trafigura in 2009 (11 February 2009) and also on the written statements of five drivers and of one assistant driver to Greenpeace in 2010 (several dates). Under each driver it is stated how many loadings/discharges the driver carried out (between one and four discharges) After each amount of waste dumped it is stated to which locations the waste was taken. This is based on the drivers’ description of the dumping places. Where this corresponds with locations marked on the UNOSAT map, this is noted. However uncertainties are also noted. This table also shows whenever the information was available, where the truck drivers washed their tanks. It is possible that the locations of where the contaminated cleaning water was dumped were identified by several institutions as dumping or impact points. All the truck drivers that transported the Probo Koala waste (except driver 5 and driver 7 who died in 2008 and 2009 respectively) are members of the organization Stop Chauffeur en Danger (SCD). Note that the total figure for waste dumped according to the written statements of the nine truck drivers given to Trafigura from February 2009, and summarized in the table, indicate that possibly more waste was dumped: between 555 cbm and 572 cbm. This is higher than the figure of 528 cbm that has been generally adopted.51 The difference might be explained by one or a combination of the following reasons: (a) The drivers gave an estimation of how full their trucks were loaded: as these are estimations, they may not necessarily precisely reflect the reality. (b) The Probo Koala had left the port of Amsterdam with 544 cbm on board (and 16 cbm had not been left behind as has generally been assumed).
»» 33,000 UTD garage41 Cleaning truck Gros Trou a Abobo42 (2.3?) Cleaning truck at lavage à Abobo Banco Cleaning truck at une station de lavage à Youpagon Cleaning truck at lavage near roundabout of d’Abobo Banco Anador Cleaning truck at Banco Lavage Cleaning truck at d’Abobo Lavage 33,000 litres
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