Substance in Beirut River nontoxic: Greenpeace
March 07, 2012 01:40 AM
BEIRUT: Greenpeace Lebanon said Tuesday that materials dumped in the Beirut River last month – turning the water red – were likely nontoxic, echoing the government’s findings on the case.

Greenpeace said it had dispatched two of its activists to the river on Feb. 15, when the water ran red, to collect samples for analysis.

It said that while it sent the samples to a specialized laboratory for testing, the quantities were insufficient to identify the exact cause, but due to the presence of living biological organisms in the water, the conclusion was reached that the material was nontoxic and likely the result of organic dye used in the textile industry.

Greenpeace said it would continue investigating the matter.

A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Daily Star on March 07, 2012, on page 4.

Read more: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Local-News/2012/Mar-07/165800-substance-in-beirut-river-nontoxic-greenpeace.ashx#ixzz1oXdSTb4r
(The Daily Star :: Lebanon News :: http://www.dailystar.com.lb)