Meeting of Polish and German ministers regarding the Odra River

The meeting was attended by Minister of Infrastructure Andrzej Adamczyk, Federal Minister of Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection Steffi Lemke, Minister of Agriculture, Climate and Environment of the State of Brandenburg Axel Vogel, Minister of Climate, Agriculture, Rural and Environmental Protection of the State of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Till Backhaus, and Voivode of Zachodniopomorskie Voivodeship, Zbigniew Bogucki.

During the press conference, the head of the Ministry of Climate and Environment stressed the need to minimize environmental damage and identify appropriate corrective actions.

We are working to identify the cause and source of potential contamination as soon as possible. Water samples have been taken regularly since the beginning of the identification of the threat. So far, more than 150 samples have been collected. All laboratories work 24 hours a day. We also decided to send some samples to other foreign laboratories for comparison. In the coming hours, samples will be tested to look for 300 potential substances; they are now subject to testing for pesticides

- Minister Anna Moskwa said.

The Minister of Climate and Environment also referred to the examination of dead fish.

Fish samples are taken continuously along the entire length of the river's contamination. Tests by the State Veterinary Institute have ruled out the presence of mercury and heavy metals in the fish

- she continued.

At the same time, further comprehensive studies are being performed, also analyzing the behavior of fish in the last moments before they died. We are analyzing various options, both the introduction of hazardous substances that can cause fish to die, but we are also taking into account the raised indicators, related to the situation in nature

- she added.