The need for state bodies to evaluate the possible soil infection after recent fires in recycling facilities in Sindos, says Professor of Environmental Engineering of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Demosthenes Sarigiannis.

In both fires in Sindos – on 11/7 and 14/7 – a warning message was sent through 112 to locals, urging them to stay indoors and close doors and windows due to dangerous tobacco. However, the burden of the atmosphere of such fires is, according to the professor, temporary, as opposed to the potential environmental impacts on the ground and surrounding crops, which may be longer -term.

As Mr Sarigiannis told RES-EIA, during the fire there is a serious risk of inhalation of toxic and carcinogenic substances and therefore the timely alert of residents through 112 is crucial to minimize their report to the dangerous tobacco. Secondary report, he added, may exist from the resuscitation of particles and re -introduction to the atmosphere. In both cases, however, the “alarm” ends up to three days after the fire is extinguished, while the same is not the case with the deposition of toxic residues from burnt plastic and other materials on the ground, which may remain in the environment for a longer period and there are necessary cleaning interventions.

“The atmosphere is not affected in the long run by such fires. Depending on the situation after a few hours – perhaps one day – we are no longer concerned with the pollution that is hovering, but the resuscitation of particles. However, three days after the fire was extinguished, what is measured in the air is no longer concerned with this event. The most important thing is to evaluate if there is contamination of burnt plastic on the ground and to be treated in the long run, especially if crops have been affected, “the professor said, noting that Thessaloniki has the particularity of” there are industries in, near or around the urban web, as well as the urban web, territory. “

Concerning the process of measurements to detect the contamination, Mr Sarigiannis explained that in order to be reliable, there should be a few days – about ten – after the fire was extinguished, while environmental mapping is particularly important, based on meteorological data, based on meteorological data. Sampling. He added that the rain could go to the infection at greater depth, and clarified that there are soil surface cleaning techniques, depending on the extent of the affected area.

“Before we get to what to do to restore the ground, you need to know where to count. It is crucial to take the winds in the area, to measure where the combustion products will have been based on wind movement. If we have rain, pollution can end more deep. All of this has the scientific and technical ability to calculate them through environmental models. It is not enough, therefore, to make measurements, they must be done at the right points and at the right time, “he noted, adding that the scientific community is available to the region and state bodies to monitor environmental impacts to determine whether there is a need for preventive measures.