DEBURCA CALLS FOR WARNING SIGNS ALONG THE AVOCA RIVER

The Avoca river has been dead downstream from Avoca since the late 1960's but has started to come back to life in recent years due to the success of the European Union LIFE project. Fish, mostly trout, are now surviving in the water and anglers are beginning to fish in the river between Avoca and Arklow.

However according to councillor de Burca, who is joint Green Party spokesperson for health, this presents potentially serious health problems. "The Avoca river is a source of serious heavy metal pollution", said councillor de Burca. "Eating fish caught in the river could have potentially serious health effects".

Councillor de Burca has called for a full and comprehensive study on the possible dangers of eating fish caught in the lower Avoca river. "Until we know for certain that eating fish from the Avoca river is safe I am calling on Wicklow County Council and on Arklow Urban District Council to immediately post signs notifying anglers of the potential dangers".

The lower Avoca river is seriously contaminated with leachate arising from the abandoned Avoca mines and has particularly high concentrations of heavy metals. According to a LIFE project report, the Avoca river contains "iron, aluminium and zinc in high concentration, with six other highly poisonous or harmful metals present in smaller amounts".

Besides the runnoff from the Avoca Mines spoil heaps, the Avoca river is also affected by leakage from the Wicklow County County landfill at Ballymurtagh. Several recent studies have shown a higher risks of birth defects among children whose mothers live near landfill sites. Other potential sources of pollution of the Avoca river include leakage from the tailings pond at Ballyarthur (near Shelton Abbey) which contains thousands of tons of toxic residue from the Avoca mines. In recent years the Avoca river has also been polluted by an accidental chemical spill from Arklow's IFI factory which resulted in a significant fish kill.

For further information please contact Deirdre de Burca on 086 8061450 or email deburca@wicklowgreens.org.