http://www.flandersnews.be/cm/de.redactie.english/news/080130_mercury
Wed 30/01/08 - The FMM factory in Anderlecht which processes used
batteries was the source of the high mercury concentrations. The
Brussels Environment Minister Evelyne Huytebroeck (Francophone green)
had the factory shut down last Friday as a precaution.
Since last Thursday, mercury concentrations of up to 9300 milligrams
per cubic metre were measured, which poses a threat to public health.
According to Evelyne Huytebroeck the problem did not pose any hazard
to the people living near the factory.
(Photonews)
Toxicologists however refute this and say that an investigation into
the health risks of the high mercury concentrations is necessary
before such conclusions can be drawn.
"We must find out how long the factory in question has been burning
batteries," says toxicologist Jan Tytgat of Leuven University.
"If we screen the factory workers we can find out a lot. If they do
not have high mercury concentrations in their bodies, the people
living in the vicinity of the factory probably won't either."
Factory 'known' by the environment police
