Soil examinations in Tetovo have revealed that the earth is contaminated with arsenic two and a half times above the permitted estimates, according to a survey conducted by environmental organizations “Vila Zora” from Veles and “Eko Guerilla” from Tetovo. This was presented at today’s presentation at the South East European University in Tetovo (SEEU), by Arijanit Xhaferi from the Tetovo environmental organization “Eco Guerrilla”.
They pointed out that samples from soil and crops taken from the fields in the vicinity of Jugohrom in Jegunovce, determined high concentrations of arsenic, while the remaining examined estimates, including the concentration of lead, were within normal limits.
“I can reveal that arsenic was found in cabbage, potatoes and other garden crops, indicating that these crops have absorbed harmful substances that exist in the soil as a result of long-term pollution, while arsenic was not found in the Tetovo apple crop” Kire Kocov from the association “Vila Zora”.
The apples, explained Kochov, have deeper roots, indicating that the arsenic has not reached them, but its presence was registered in samples taken at a depth of 20 and 40 centimetres. Arsen, over the permitted limits, was also found in samples taken from surfaces in the city of Tetovo, near the “Cyril and Methodius” school.
