Toxics Action Blocking Chemiehaven in Rotterdam Harbour

Greenpeace activists block the Chemiehaven, a part of the Rotterdam harbour, to call attention to the necessity for a decontamination of the heavily polluted soil of this harbour. The pollution with among others dioxins, PCB's and mercury is caused by the chlorine and PVC-production by AKZO and Shell in the past. The concentrations of dioxin are so high that the Ministery of Transport and Public Works already stated in 1993 that almost all life in the harbour is disappeared and decontamination is absolutely necessary. However the clean-up is kept putting off. With two large buoys and barrels activists mark the place of the illegal dump for toxic waste. Together with signs and banners Greenpeace makes clear her demand: governments and the polluters of the harbour - AKZO, Shell and Shin Etsu - must start now with cleaning up the pollution. Dioxin belongs to the so-calles POP's (Persistent Organic Pollutants). POP's are highly toxic and they do not decompose readily or quickly in the environment and they cover long distances in the environment and can be found in household dust, but also at the North Pole. They accumulate in the fatty of humans and animals and are often hormone disrupting. The chemical industry produces and uses them in products, like carpets, paints, televisions, cosmetics and computers. During the production, usage and waste phase the toxic substances leak from the products and pollute this way the environment. Greenpeace wants a ban on the production and usage of POP's.