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| Ivory Coast waste 'was not toxic' | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| The company that discharged 500 tonnes of waste in Ivory Coast has denied that the product was toxic. | The company that discharged 500 tonnes of waste in Ivory Coast has denied that the product was toxic. |
| The Netherlands-based company, Trafigura, said independent analysis showed the chemical sludge met international safety standards. | The Netherlands-based company, Trafigura, said independent analysis showed the chemical sludge met international safety standards. |
| Seven people died and 40,000 were treated in hospital for nausea, breathing problems and nosebleeds. | Seven people died and 40,000 were treated in hospital for nausea, breathing problems and nosebleeds. |
| Ten people, including two French Trafigura executives, have been charged in connection with the discharge. | Ten people, including two French Trafigura executives, have been charged in connection with the discharge. |
| The environmental group Greenpeace has blocked the tanker concerned, the Probo Koala, in an Estonian port to demand a European inquiry. | The environmental group Greenpeace has blocked the tanker concerned, the Probo Koala, in an Estonian port to demand a European inquiry. |
| Price increase | Price increase |
| The story began in the Dutch port of Amsterdam in early August. Trafigura attempted to discharge the chemical slops from one of its tankers, the Probo Koala. | The story began in the Dutch port of Amsterdam in early August. Trafigura attempted to discharge the chemical slops from one of its tankers, the Probo Koala. |
| For over three hours, all of us were exposed to the fumes Sunday Edeh, Abidjan href="/1/hi/world/africa/5323400.stm" class="">Eyewitness: Exposed | |
| But the company that was to dispose of the waste suddenly increased its charges dramatically - asking for 40 times more to treat the waste. | But the company that was to dispose of the waste suddenly increased its charges dramatically - asking for 40 times more to treat the waste. |
| Trafigura refused, and the tanker proceeded to Nigeria. There it tried to offload the waste, but again failed to reach an agreement with two local firms. | Trafigura refused, and the tanker proceeded to Nigeria. There it tried to offload the waste, but again failed to reach an agreement with two local firms. |
| It was only in Ivory Coast that it managed to find a company to handle the waste at a cost the company would accept. | It was only in Ivory Coast that it managed to find a company to handle the waste at a cost the company would accept. |
| On 19 August the waste was discharged near the commercial capital, Abidjan. Two weeks later the first complaints arose. | On 19 August the waste was discharged near the commercial capital, Abidjan. Two weeks later the first complaints arose. |
| Instead of being incinerated as it should have been, the waste had been dumped. | Instead of being incinerated as it should have been, the waste had been dumped. |
| Charges | Charges |
| One of the chemicals it contained gave off a pungent smell, although the company insists it was not intrinsically unsafe. | One of the chemicals it contained gave off a pungent smell, although the company insists it was not intrinsically unsafe. |
| The UN worries toxins may have entered the food chain | |
| But a director of Trafigura, Eric de Turkheim, in the first interview since the story broke, said he could not rule out a link between the waste and the health problems suffered by the people of Abidjan. | But a director of Trafigura, Eric de Turkheim, in the first interview since the story broke, said he could not rule out a link between the waste and the health problems suffered by the people of Abidjan. |
| "We do not know whether there was any attempt to use the product in any way or form, which could have generated some toxicity." | "We do not know whether there was any attempt to use the product in any way or form, which could have generated some toxicity." |
| Trafigura suspects that someone in Abidjan may have attempted to refine the chemical slops to try to recover the gasoline content, and this - in some way - turned it into hazardous waste. | Trafigura suspects that someone in Abidjan may have attempted to refine the chemical slops to try to recover the gasoline content, and this - in some way - turned it into hazardous waste. |
| In the meantime the company sent senior officials to Ivory Coast to offer help in the clean-up, and has provided medical assistance. | In the meantime the company sent senior officials to Ivory Coast to offer help in the clean-up, and has provided medical assistance. |
| But two directors have been arrested by the Ivorian authorities, and are now facing up to 20 years in prison for their alleged part in this toxic waste scandal. | But two directors have been arrested by the Ivorian authorities, and are now facing up to 20 years in prison for their alleged part in this toxic waste scandal. |