Amerikai Magyar Szó, 1989. január-június (43. évfolyam, 1-26. szám)
1989-01-12 / 2. szám
AMERIKAI MAGYAR SZÓ 11. Thursday, Jan. 12. 1989. Byproducts of the Bomb: Pollution and the Weapon Factories Environmental contamination problems described in the Energy Department report released yesterday. Mound Facility Miamisburg, Ohio Waste pits at the site, which manufactures hii)h explosives and plutonium components for satellites, are believed to be leaching toxic chemicals into soil. Officials are concerned about plutonium leaching into ground water. * Nevada Test Site Near Las Vegas The site is where nuclear weapons were tested above ground until 1961 and below ground since then. About 75 square miles of the site is thoroughly contaminated with radioactive materials from these tests, including plutonium, cesium and strontium. Pantex Facility Amarillo, Tex. Thousands of gallons of toxic solvents from the plant, the final assembly point for nuclear warheads, were discharged into a giant unlined waste pit from 1954 to 1980. The chemicals are believed to be leaking into the Ogallala Aquifer, the primary drinking water source for Amarillo. Feed Materials Production Center Fernald, Ohio Two silos are filled with 390,000 cubic feet of radioactive wastes that emit deadly radon gas. The plant has also released more than 300,000 pounds of uranium oxide and has contaminated drinking water wells. The Hanford Reservation Near Richland, Wash. Liquid radioactive and toxic wastes were dumped in trenches from the time the plant opened in 1944 until the early 1980's. The wastes have contaminated large underground reservoirs used for drinking water and irrigation. Idaho National Engineering Laboratory Near Idaho Falls The plant, which reprocesses nuclear fuel and operates experimental reactors, has discharged radioactive and toxic wastes into unlined waste lagoons. From there the waste has leached into the Snake River Aquifer, a giant underground reservoir. The Kansas City Plant Kansas City, Mo The plant, which produces electronic components for weapons, has contaminated soil and sewer lines with PCB s by discharging the cancer-causing chemicals into pits. The plant also released 240 tons of toxic chemicals into the atmosphere. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Livermore, Calif. One of the principal national weapon laboratories. The site has leached toxic contamination from other operations into the ground water. The contamination is expected to migrate to nearby residential communties dependent on ground water. Pinellas Plant Largo, Fla The plant produces mechanical components for weapons. Underground storage tanks containing chemical compounds are believed to be leaking. Portsmouth Uranium Enrichment Complex Piketon, Ohio Roughly 36 pounds of cancer-causing and toxic hexavalent chromium used in the process of enriching uranium for reactor fuel, is being released to the atmosphere daily through the plant's cooling towers. Rocky Flats Plant Near Golden, Colo The plant, which processes plutonium for weapons, is leaking volatile, cancer-causing organic chemicals into undergroundwater north of Denver. Soil around the site is contaminated with plutonium at elevated levels. Sandia National Laboratories Albuquerque, N.M., Livermore, Calif., and north of Las Vegas. Miles of desert near the Nevada site are contaminated with hazardous materials used at the laboratories since the early 1940 s. Underground storage tanks have leaked. Open lagoons are receiving contaminated wastes and may be leaking. Savannah River Plant Near Aiken, S C The plant, which produces radioactive tritium and plutonium for nuclear weapons, has released millions of curies of tritium gas into the atmosphere from accidents. A primary aquifer in the area has been contaminated with solvents. Environmental hazards are no longer local. They develop all over the world and they effect us no matter where they originate. The disaster in the rainforest of Brazil has repercussions up and down the hemisphere. We publish some examples above. HUNGARIAN FISH & TALES Sam, the king of silures i ne biggest fish ever caught by an angler in Hungary was found in the dead waters at Fadd-Dombori. An experienced angler, István Kuperczkó. had encountered the same huge silure years before when it was lying in the sun on the surface. He threatened the fish: you'd better beware, Sam, one day I’ll get you! And so he did on a sunny day in May. True, Sam was a noble enemy with his 95.8 kg weight, and trailed the angler’s boat for almost three hours before being got out of the water. And when the anglers took a closer look at him on the bank they saw that Sam was a she! * * * The carp bent in a U shape At the Pebbles Mine lake in Budapest angler István Mezei, caught the most odd fish of the past decades. The carp weighing of about two and a half kilograms did not even resist when hooked and could easily be pulled out of the water. Onlookers stood in suprise at the sight of the fish. The carp although with a normal head, had a body bent in a U shape and which was in many places disfigured. Every bond was visible as if impressed and some of the bones around the fish’ belly were sticking out. Apparently the carp had become disfigured in the brooding period. The fish was taken to the zoo where it received special treatment. * * * The pike that eats bird The most dangerous carnivorous fish living in Hungarian waters is pike, the greedy habits of which have been the subject of many stories. The greediest one must have been the pike that was finally caught by a countryside angler in the Melegvíz brook, weighing about 3.3 kg and having jaws like that of a crocodile. It was noticeable that the fish’ belly was very full. On opening, a bird was found inside, undigested. It must have been insufficient for the pike, in spite of its full belly, was eager to get the bait on the anglers line. * * * DEMONSTRATION IN BUDAPEST We interviewed Gabi Szekeres who took part in a demonstration against a proposed dam on the Danube. It occured on September 6th, 1988 in Budapest. It went as follows:- When was the demonstration?- It started on Vörösmarty Square and then moved to the Parliament where they presented their demands to the president of the Parliament.- What was the reaction to the petition?- Mr. Bruno Straub, the spokesman did not agreee with our petition and I feel he was doing so because he represented the Government.- How many people participated?- The press said 20.000. Probably a conservative estimate.- Did the police interfere?- Not at all. There was no intimidation.- Who sponsored the rally?- There were some 20 environmental groups involved. They were all there to protest the dam.- Where is the dam supposed to be built?-Near Visegrád.- Why were you protesting?- I felt that Hungary is in an economic crisis. The dam would only aggrevate the situation. It would mean more borrowing by the country and greater deficits. There are better ways to improve our economy#- Such as?- We must improve our medical care. Our hospitals are archaic and must be brought up to date. Housing in inadequate. If we must borrow let it be for houses.Transpor- tation must be strenghtened. And finally while Hungarians love their cars, they must learn to accept instruction in driving in the cities. Car pollution today is dreadful. There will have to be limited use of roads, more electric buses, more pedestrian areas.- Thank you for the interview, Gabi. The Editors Chessl Robert Byrne Judit Polgár, 11, ties for first in Iceland gaining 2d norm toward international master title. In one of the most remarkable /eats ever by an 11-year-old, Judit Polgar of Hungary tied for first place with her 19- year-old sister, Zsuzsa, one of the strongest female players in the world, in a small invitational international tournament in Egilsstadir, Iceland, June 5-15. They each scored 6i-2i against an otherwise all-male field that included two grandmasters. Moreover, Judit's tally gave her a new second norm toward the international master title. Her first came in New York last April. One more norm could make her the youngest such titleholder in history, girl or boy. Not even Bobby Fischer made it that young. The quality of Judit Polgar's play may be judged from her game with Hannes Ste- fansson of Iceland, who was the winner of the 1987 Cadet (under 16) Championship in Innsbruck, Austria.
