Results of the pollutant analyses are available

Following the fire during ongoing production in the hall of a foundry on Schönherrstraße on 2 June 2023, numerous investigations were carried out into possible environmental pollution. The results are now available:

Wipe samples

During the fire, the fire brigade had already taken wipe samples on car roofs and on a balcony in the vicinity of the incident - specifically at Konradstraße 10, Paul-Jäkel-Straße 7 and Luisenplatz/Tannenstraße due to the direction in which the smoke cloud spread. The Environmental Agency commissioned an external laboratory to analyse these three samples for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH - sub-sample 1) and polychlorinated dibenzodioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/PCDF - sub-sample 2).

For subsample 1, no PAHs and no benzo(a)pyrene were detected in any of the three wipe samples. For subsample 2, it was found that all three wipe samples contained minimal levels of PCDDs/PCDFs. The individual substances analysed were summed up according to their toxic effect to toxic equivalents (TEQ) according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). These TEQs are just at or just above the limit of quantification.

Conclusion: There was and is no PAH, dioxin or furan contamination at the three sampling points mentioned.

Fruit and vegetable samples

Together with the food monitoring and veterinary office of the city of Chemnitz, fruit and vegetable samples were taken from several private gardens on Salzstraße and Waldleite and analysed for PAHs by the Saxony State Research Institute. Apples, currants, rhubarb, sour cherries, chives, gooseberries, sweet cherries and lemon balm were analysed in unwashed condition.
No polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were detected or could not be quantified in the samples of apples, rhubarb stalks, sour cherries and sweet cherries.

For currants, chives and lemon balm, small traces of PAHs were detected within the limits of quantification. However, there are no maximum content regulations for PAHs in food law for fresh herbs. Assuming a drying factor of 7, as specified by the European Spice Association (ESA) for chives, the levels of benzo(a)pyrene or the sum of PAHs would correspond to around one twentieth to one tenth of the maximum levels applicable to dried herbs.

With the exception of benzo(a)pyrene, no PAHs were found in quantifiable quantities in the "mixed gooseberries" sample submitted. The value for benzo(a)pyrene is within the limit of quantification.

As the samples were analysed in an unwashed state, it can be assumed that washing them under running water would reduce the PAH levels, as the compounds, which are insoluble in water themselves, are mainly found bound to dust and soil particles and can be removed with these.

Conclusion: Elevated levels of PAHs were not detected in any of the samples.

Extinguishing water

On the day of the fire, the Chemnitz central sewage treatment plant (ZKA) was informed by the fire brigade control centre that extinguishing water was entering the sewage treatment plant via the sewer network.

The wastewater arriving at the sewage treatment plant was diverted to a rainwater retention basin on the ZKA site and temporarily stored at the time of the fire. The wastewater was analysed for the standard parameters chemical oxygen demand (COD), adsorbable organic halogen compounds (AOX) and heavy metals.

Conclusion: The results showed no serious deviations from normal operation.

The hourly average values from 2 June 2023 at the two Chemnitz air monitoring stations Leipziger Straße and Hans-Link-Straße can also be accessed at sachsen.de/luftmessnetz/datenrecherche. There are no anomalies.

An analysis of the dust constituents on 2 June 2023 is planned by the State Office for the Environment, Agriculture and Geology. When the results are available, they will also be published.