Explosion in Leverkusen: What was in the smoke - and how dangerous is it?

After the huge explosion in a waste incineration plant in Leverkusen, the question of possible health risks for the population comes to the fore.

The North Rhine-Westphalian State Environment Agency (LANUV) announced on Wednesday that it was “currently” assuming that “dioxin, PCB and furan compounds” had been carried into the surrounding residential areas via the cloud of smoke released.

The operating company of the Chempark, which was shaken by the detonation, said meanwhile that it assumes the death of the five missing employees.

The explosion had killed at least two people, 31 were injured according to the operator Currenta.

The cause of the detonation is still unclear.

After the accident, tanks burned in which, according to Currenta, “organic solvents” were stored.

Then a huge cloud of smoke rose, soot particles fell on nearby towns.

At first it was unclear which substances were exactly in the smoke.

The city of Leverkusen recommended to its residents, among other things, not to eat any fruit or vegetables from the garden on which particles had deposited.

The LANUV said that according to its information, chlorinated solvents, among other things, were stored in the tanks concerned.

"The particular problem with substances that contain chlorine is that chlorine compounds can turn into dioxin or PCB compounds during a combustion process," explained a spokesman.

"How much the residues are contaminated with these substances will only be shown after the evaluation."

The concentration of the substances is decisive

Basically, according to the State Environment Agency, dioxins are produced in more or less high concentrations in every fire incident. Recommendations for behavior and measurements currently have a "strong preventive character". “Dioxins are mainly accumulated in the body through food. Therefore, our recommendations always go in the direction of a consumption recommendation, i.e. not to consume fruit and vegetables from your own garden for the time being. "

The decisive factor is the question of the concentration of the substances. "Dioxin, PCB and furan compounds are definitely associated with deformities in newborns of animals, less in humans than environmental oestrogens or cancer-causing substances in humans," said Daniel Dietrich, head of the human and environmental toxicology working group at the University of Konstanz , the German Press Agency. “But - and that is the big but - only in high concentrations. And that is not the case if the area in question is cleaned and decontaminated over time. "

The fabrics stuck to surfaces, he said. "They don't jump at you, you would have to actively transport them into your body - for example when you lick your hands after working in the garden." Even if you were covered from top to bottom with the particles, you could do them without risk wash off with soap. "In my estimation, there is no acute danger for the population if they adhere to the recommendations of the State Environment Agency and the other authorities involved," said Dietrich.

Since the final analysis was still pending, the city of Leverkusen upheld its recommendations to the citizens. The soot should not be carried into the home. In addition to fruit and vegetables, garden furniture or pools should also be avoided in the affected areas. If you urgently need to work in the garden, you should wear gloves as a precaution. The playgrounds in the districts of Bürrig and Opladen, which are close to the explosion, remained closed for the time being. The municipality had already announced on Tuesday that Currenta would “promptly clean the streets, sidewalks and house entrances”.