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A COMPANY have admitted responsibility for a toxic cyanide spill into a town’s canal which led to a major public health alert.
Anochrome Ltd was named by the Environment Agency (EA) as being behind the serious chemical spillage in Walsall, West Midlands, on Monday.
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It has affected a 14 mile stretch of water across the Black Country and into Birmingham – sparking a major incident.
Walsall Council yesterday confirmed the EA had found traces of sodium cyanide in the water which can be fatal to humans and animals.
Residents have been warned to avoid the contaminated waterways and told not to eat fish caught from the canal.
The metal finishing firm has now issued a statement confirming chemicals from their site had entered the canal and they were working to contain the spill.
A spokesman for Anochrome Ltd said: “We can confirm that a chemical incident occurred at Anochrome Ltd Walsall in the early hours of Monday, August 12.
“Regrettably, as a result, some of the released chemicals entered a canal in Walsall.
“Our immediate response was to notify the Environment Agency and Severn Trent Water.
“Our senior management team has been, and remain, on-site working collaboratively with all relevant authorities and agencies to minimise and contain the spill.
“In addition, from the moment we were aware of the incident, we have made all our facilities available to the authorities and agencies in attendance, including inhouse laboratory testing facilities.
“The safety of our community and the environment is our top priority.
“We are focused on limiting the impact of this incident and will provide further updates as they become available.”
Anochrome Ltd describes itself as the “UK’s largest independent metal finishing company” and a “quality-conscious and environmentally aware organisation.”
The Environment Agency, UKHSA, Walsall and Sandwell Councils, West Midlands Police, West Midlands Fire, West Midlands Ambulance Service, the Canal & River Trust and Severn Trent Water have been working together as the West Midlands Local Resilience Forum since the spillage was reported on Monday evening.
This has involved testing of the canal water and an investigation into the cause of the spillage.
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The public have been urged to stay away from the affected areas, which include Walsall, Rushall, Ryders Green and Perry Barr Locks.
Yesterday residents spoke of their shock at seeing the amount of dead fish floating in the water while angling experts warned of a “total wipe-out.”
Lifelong angler Jeremy Taylor, 32, who has been using the Walsall canal system since he was 10-years-old, said: “I couldn’t believe it.
“If you stand here long enough you can actually see them come to the surface.
“I don’t know how it’s going to affect the fish population or the birds when they eat them. It’s terrible.
What is sodium cyanide?
Appearance:
White crystalline or granular powder.
Description:
Sodium cyanide releases hydrogen cyanide gas, a highly toxic chemical asphyxiant that interferes with the body’s ability to use oxygen. Exposure to sodium cyanide can be rapidly fatal.
It has whole-body (systemic) effects, particularly affecting those organ systems most sensitive to low oxygen levels: the central nervous system (brain), the cardiovascular system (heart and blood vessels), and the pulmonary system (lungs).
Sodium cyanide is used commercially for fumigation, electroplating, extracting gold and silver from ores, and chemical manufacturing.
Hydrogen cyanide gas released by sodium cyanide has a distinctive bitter almond odour (others describe a musty “old sneakers smell”), but a large proportion of people cannot detect it; the odour does not provide adequate warning of hazardous concentrations.
Sodium cyanide is odourless when dry. Sodium cyanide is shipped as pellets or briquettes. It absorbs water from air (is hygroscopic or deliquescent).
Routes of exposure:
Sodium cyanide can affect the body through ingestion, inhalation, skin contact, or eye contact.
“I don’t know whether it was an accident or if it was on purpose, but it’s horrible either way.
“Some of these fish have been in there for years and years.”
John Williams, secretary of the Birmingham Angling Association, added: “If it does fully affect the whole of the 14 miles, then it will be a total wipe-out for the fish.
“It really does depend on the extent of the pollution.
“It’s certainly going to be more devastating than anything I have personally known.
“If it’s localised properly, then the surviving fish will repopulate quite quickly – but in this case, I think it has the potential to devastate the fish population.”
Councillor Garry Perry, the leader of Walsall Council, said: “Our priority is the safety of our residents.
“We are working closely with our partners to manage this situation which has been declared a major incident.
“For your own safety, please avoid this area of the canal and its towpaths.”
