Study on the environmental pollution risks induced by the

ECOTERRA - Journal of Environmental Research and Protection
Study on the environmental pollution risks induced by
the former Chemical Plant in Târnăveni, Mureş county
Theodor Lupei, Monica Matei, Lucian Laslo, Ana M. Nicolescu
National Institute for Research and Development in Environmental Protection,
Bucharest, Romania. Corresponding author: T. Lupei, theolupei@gmail.com
Abstract. Târnăveni is a town considered the third most polluted place in Romania, mainly due to the
ruins of the former Chemical Plant, which was closed in 2007. In the former Chemical Plant located right
next to this town were made products for different industries such as tannery substances, insecticides,
treatments for trees or paint bases in the engineering industry. Residues resulting from the production of
chemical substances were stored in three pits located between the former buildings of the plant and the
Târnava Mică River, a few tens of meters away. The former Chemical Plant in Târnăveni occupy nearly
100 hectares of land in the southwestern part of the town of which 30 hectares are chemical waste
dumps, whose estimated amount would reach 2.5 million tons. The most detrimental component that is
in this chemical waste dumps is represented by hexavalent chromium, prolonged exposure through
inhalation of this material causes inflammation of the lungs, nose, skin and has carcinogenic effect. The
purpose of this paper is to analyze the risk situations that can be generated by this chemical waste
dumps, keeping in mind that is in close proximity to the town of Târnăveni and the water flow of the
Târnava Mică River. The threat of pollution in this area is considerable, especially considering that if the
overlap with some extreme natural events (heavy rainfall, earthquakes, etc.) situation can get out of
control and affect the environment and human population.
Key Words: pollution, chemical waste dumps, Târnăveni – Mureş County, Târnava Mică River.
Introduction. The chemical industry in Romania marks a strong restructuring after
1989. Today, many chemical plants have been closed for some time and now are
potential sources of environmental pollution. Waste resulting from this chemical plants
activities were stored in dumps/pits, that are now abandoned and need to be
rehabilitated.
In the communist era, the chemical plant in Târnăveni use to produce inorganic
product such as sodium dichromate, potassium dichromate, barium salts, chromium
salts, zinc oxide, etc.. Waste resulting from activities at this plant were deposited in pits
behind the plant, located in the vicinity of the Târnava Mică River.
The chemical plant in Târnăveni was closed in 2002, but in the factory dumps still
remain stored approximately 2.5 million tonnes of chemical waste, although storage
activity is stopped, this dumps have not been closed in accordance with environmental
protection requirements (National Institute for Research and Development in
Environmental Protection 2010; www.ecomagazin.ro). The most harmful chemical
component in this dumps at the former chemical plant is hexavalent chromium. Long
exposure to this pollutant cause lung and skin diseases. Carcinogenic effects of
hexavalent chromium have been confirmed by numerous studies.
In this article are presented aspects regarding the possibility of contamination of
the Târnava Mică River with chemical substances stored in the dumps placed at the
former chemical plant, in the event of significant flooding.
Knowledge of hydrological and hydraulic situation in the area is essential to
identify possibility of significant flooding that could pollute the Târava Mică River. Also,
knowledge of the situation in the localities downstream of the former chemical plant is
required to assess the impact of a possible pollution wave, which leads to the
establishment of optimal measures to be applied in case of such unwanted events.
Description of the analyzed area. Târnăveni city is located in the southwestern of
Mureş County, at a distance of about 45 km from the main city of this county, Târgu
Mureş (Figure 1).
Târnăveni city is located in central Transylvanian Basin at the junction of the
Târnăveni Plateau Plateau in the north and Dumbrăveni Plateau in the south.
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Figure 1. Localization of Târnăveni city (www.google.com/earth).
The maximum height in the Târnăveni Plateau is 555 m and the maximum difference in
level between the Târnăveni Plateau and the Târnavei Mică River meadow is 230 m
(Figure 2).
Figure 2. Altimetric dimensional relief map of the Târnăveni city area.
The main surface water collector in the area around Târnăveni city is the Târnava Mică
River, which flows from the Gurghiului mountains.
Annual average river flow of the Târnava Mică recorded at the hydrometric station
in Târnăveni is 9.77 m3/s, and average transport capacity of the minor riverbed is about
60 m3/s. The maximum flow of the Târnava Mică River was 630 m3/s, recorded at
Târnăveni hydrometric station on 07/03/1975.
Also, at the hydrometric station in Târnăveni the "0" level of the hydrometric
share, that is a value determined since from the hydrometric station founding, is located
at 279.84 m dMB, the attention hydrometric share is at 2.5 m, the flood hydrometric
share is at 3.0 m and the threat hydrometric share is at 4.0 m (Mureş Basin
Administration 2009).
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In the area of the Târnăveni city, the Târnava Mică River lane is under the influence of
the air masses from the west and northwest, which substantially influences the
characteristics of climatic parameters.
Average annual air temperature is 9.8oC value and the annual rainfall is recorded
at 688 mm (Târnăveni Hall City website).
Târnăveni city's population recorded at the last census in 2011 was 22075
inhabitants (Târnăveni Hall City website).
Industrial activity in the area has developed through the exploitation of methane
gas from the early twentieth century. Since 1916, in the city of Târnăveni several
businesses carried activities, such as Nitrogen, an explosives and fighting gas plant that
preceded the chemical Târnăveni (Figure 3).
Figure 3. Location of the former chemical plant in Târnăveni city.
It was for decades the main provider of jobs for local residents, with over 6500
employees during its maximum development.
With the chemical decay in Târnăveni, after the chemical plant has shut down, the
number of city residents in Târnăveni started declining, mainly due to the lack of jobs.
In terms of infrastructure, the city of Târnăveni is connected with the rest of the
country with the national road DN 14A and the railway link is established by the
seconadary railway number 307, connecting the cities of Blaj, Târnăveni and Praid.
Risks of pollution in the area in case of flooding. In general, in this area floods
occur during summer (July-August) and are generated by heavy rainfall recorded in short
intervals (Environmental Protection Agency 2011). Spring floods are generated by water
from the snow melting process, also in some cases with a overlap of a significant amount
of rainfall can generate dangerous floods in this area. There are floods generated on
permanent or non-permanent watercourses, which can cause massive flooding.
Most significant floods that affected the study area occurred in the years 1970 and
1975. The flash floods that have caused these floodings were caused by rainfall with
averages in 24 hours recorded at 75 mm in 1970 and 50 mm in 1975. Although the flood
of 1970 was higher than the one in 1975 in terms of quantity, the 1975 flood recorded a
maximum flow intensity higher than that the one of 1970.
After the floods of 1970 and 1975 were taken the following measures to prevent
these phenomena (Figure 4):
- construction on the Cuşmed tributary water course of a storage pool near the
village of Bezid, at a distance of about 74 km upstream of the former chemical plant in
Târnăveni;
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- construction of a polder near the village of Bălăuşeri approximately 51 km
upstream of the former chemical plant in Târnăveni. It comes into operation when flows
exceed the 5% probability events on Târnava Mică River, and at lower values of flow the
inside of the polder stays dry, being occupied by crops. Draining the water volume
accumulated after a flood in the polder is achieved through spillways.
- construction of protective dams during the regular course of the Târnava Mică
River.
Figure 4. Hydrographic map of the Târnava Mică River sector between the village of
Bălăuşeri and the city of Târnăveni.
In the Figure 4 it can be seen that the tributary water courses between the village of
Bălăuşeri and the city of Târnăveni are all in the left site of the Târnava Mică River.
Figure 5 shows the flood hazard and risk map of Târnava Mică River, in the area of
the former chemical plant at Târnăveni.
Figure 5. Map of flood risk in the area of the former chemical plant at Târnăveni
(Source: Romanian Waters National Administration).
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ECOTERRA - Journal of Environmental Research and Protection
Looking at the map shown it above can be observed that the corresponding area of the
former chemical plant at Târnăveni presents both medium risk and high risk flood. In the
event of a significant flash flood on the Târnava Mică River, the former chemical plant
may be flooded. In this case, the waste dumps content would be in direct contact with
the Târnava Mică River water.
In order to avoid such a situation, in the year 1975 was build a protective dam
located south of the former chemical plant, on the right bank of the Târnava Mică River.
If the water discharge over the dam is possible that the chemical residues stored
on the plant may come into direct contact with the river, and the water users
downstream will be affected.
The settlements crossed by the Târnava Mică River in the sector Târnăveni - Blaj
are in 19 in number, located in Mureş County (Târnăveni, Dâmbău, Adămuş, Corneşti
and Crăieşti) and in Alba County (Cetatea de Baltă, Sântămărie, Feisa, Jidvei, Căpâlna de
Jos, Sânmiclău, Şona, Biia, Lunca Târnavei, Pănade, Iclod, Sâncel, Petrisat and Blaj)
(Figure 6).
Figure 6. Settlements crossed by the Târnava Mică River between the cities of Târnăveni and Blaj.
In the event of a flash flood, the time for the propagation of the pollution wave on the
Târnava Mică River across the sector Târnăveni - Blaj (59 km) is in the range of 22 to 30
hours and if the case of liquid flows under the multiannual average (exemple: in the
drought period) in the range of 40-62 hours. Knowing these time intervals is useful for
timely warning of downstream water users and to implement proper measures (Mureş
Local Council 2013).
Waste found in the dumps on the plant (30 ha) of the former chemical plant at
Târnăveni former (Figure 7) is approximately 2.5 million tons. A possible water
contamination of Târnava Mică River resulting from the contact with the chemical waste
dumps on the former chemical plant can lead to heavy metal pollution of the watercourse
and with other pollutants identified on the plant.
The chemical waste dumps (Figure 8) contain sodium dichromate and potassium
dichromate, and were produced in the chemical plant at Târnăveni and after the
manufacturing process chemical waste containing hexavalent chromium was resulted.
The most stable hexavalent chromium compounds are chromates and dichromate and the
most unstable are peroxochromate and halides chromyl.
Upstream of the chemical waste dumps on the platform of the former chemical
plant in the city of Târnăveni on the Târnava Mică River, water quality class in 2005 was
in the third category (moderate), this classification was determined for groups of oxygen
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and salinity regime indicators. The Târnava Mică sector downstream of the city Târnăveni
is cataloged in the fourth grade quality (poor), this is due to the annual average
concentration of hexavalent chromium of 0.155 mg/l. However towards the year 2004,
the annual average concentration of hexavalent chromium was at 0.346 mg/l, in 2005
there was a significant improvement on this dangerous pollutant concentration in the
water of the Târnava Mică River.
Figure 7. The former chemical plant at Târnăveni (Source:
http://romaniateiubesc.stirileprotv.ro/emisiuni/2014/sezonul-1/floarea-chimieiromanesti-a-devenit-o-bomba-ecologica-la-tarnaveni-apocalipsa-a-venit-deja.html).
Figure 8. Chemical waste dumps at the former chemical plant in Târnăveni
(Source: panoramio.ro – Adrian Oroşan).
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Conclusions. The current situation of the former chemical plant in Târnăveni is unclear,
which occupies nearly 100 ha of land in the south-west of the city, of which
approximately 30 ha are waste dumps whose estimated quantity would amount to about
2.5 million tones. Currently on the former chemical plant territory is a wastewater
treatment plant operated by the company Ecotech Waste Bucharest that aims to prevent
a heavy metal contamination of the Târnava Mică River watercourse. To prevent water to
drain from the chemical waste dumps during rainfall some concrete canals were built to
direct the water that is gained here. Also, it was built a concrete wall buried in the
ground, 40 m depth, located between the plant and the Târnava Mică River. These
protection measures, however, are insufficient and don't completely confined the
pollution and risk generated by these dumps of dangerous substances. Although the
costs of maintaining the operational level of this wastewater treatment plant are quite
high, the funds needed for a complete greening are not accessed yet.
In the event of high quantities of water resulting from rainfall/snow melt those
canals would not be able to cope, and would occur water can favor the infiltration in the
groundwater aquifers. Such a situation must be early announced and urgent warned of
the local authorities of those 19 settlements. Also all the water users downstream of
Târnăveni on the Târnava Mică River must be warned. Also, in the event of an
earthquake with a high magnitude the underground concrete wall that acts as a barrier
between the dumps present on the former chemical plant and the Târnava Mică minor
riverbed will suffer damages, and through the cracks created the toxic substances of the
dumps will enter into the groundwater and further in the river located a few tens of
meters away.
Given that chemical waste dumps at the former chemical plant in Târnăveni are
exposed to the atmospheric conditions such as precipitation and wind. The geologic layer
on which this waste dump is located should also be isolated, because water infiltrations
that wash this dump should not reach the groundwater network. These dumps should
also be isolated from the outside environment, to prevent their transport through wind
and rainfall.
The chemical waste deposits from the former chemical plant at Târnăveni has
some similarities with other industrial waste storage, corresponding to the one of SC
AZOMUREŞ SA, which passed through the study stages, authorization and funding for
closure and rehabilitation. Similar items for these two objectives are listed below:
- the area occupied by the chemical waste dumps present on the former chemical
plant at Târnăveni is similar (30 ha) to the waste dump pound at SC AZOMUREŞ SA;
- the presence of some dangerous substances is somehow similar between the
two waste damps, but the peculiarities of the chemical plant from Târnăveni must be
taken into consideration and studied in detail;
- considering the small distance between these two locations, weather conditions
are similar;
- considering the location within Mureş County and waste dump classification
conditions of the both deposits implies that the administrative and legislative rigors that
faced the two deposits show similar issues;
- greening activities regulations of the waste dump pound at AZOMUREŞ aimed at
preventing or reducing environmental impacts, in particular the pollution of surface
water, groundwater, soil, air, including greenhouse effect, and any health risk toward the
population, on the entire operation duration of the landfill and after its expiration.
In the study regarding the AZOMUREŞ waste dump, has been proposed a solution
to close and greening the waste dump pound. This solution could be taken into
consideration also for the waste dumps on the former chemical plant at Târnăveni.
Closure and rehabilitation of the waste dumps at Târnăveni is necessary in order to
protect the environment and rendering the 30 ha to the economic cycle. Before the start
of a possible greening process, is necessary a preparatory work in order to assure the
proper environmental and social conditions.
From the financial point of view, this solution is likely to be achieved by the
passage of the territory on which former chemical plant sits, to the Târnăveni City Hall,
making it possible to access European funds for greening the affected area.
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References
*** Environmental Protection Agency, 2011 Report on the state of the environment in
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*** Mureş Basin Administration, 2009 Management Plan of the Mureş Hydrographic
Basin, Târgu Mureş - “Planul de Management al Bazinului Hidrografic Mureş” [in
Romanian].
*** Mureş Local Council, 2013 County plan regarding flood defense, ice, hydrological
drought, accidents and accidental pollution hydraulic structures on watercourses.
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***
www.ecomagazin.ro/25-milioane-de-tone-de-reziduuri-otravesc-aerul-si-panzafreatica-din-tarnaveni/.
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*** www.rowater.ro – Administraţia Bazinală de Apă Mureş.
***
http://romaniateiubesc.stirileprotv.ro/emisiuni/2014/sezonul-1/floarea-chimieiromanesti-a-devenit-o-bomba-ecologica-la-tarnaveni-apocalipsa-a-venit-deja.html.
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Received: 01 November 2014. Accepted: 29 November 2014. Published online: 30 December 2014.
Authors:
Theodor Lupei, National Institute for Research and Development in Environmental Protection, 294 Splaiul
Independentei, 6th district, 060031, Bucharest, Romania, e-mail: theolupei@gmail.com
Monica Matei, National Institute for Research and Development in Environmental Protection, 294 Splaiul
Independentei, 6th district, 060031, Bucharest, Romania
Lucian Laslo, National Institute for Research and Development in Environmental Protection, 294 Splaiul
Independentei, 6th district, 060031, Bucharest, Romania
Ana Maria Nicolescu, National Institute for Research and Development in Environmental Protection, 294 Splaiul
Independentei, 6th district, 060031, Bucharest, Romania
This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which
permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source
are credited.
How to cite this article:
Lupei T., Matei M., Laslo L., Nicolescu A. M., 2014 Study on the environmental pollution risks induced by the
former Chemical Plant in Târnăveni, Mureş county. Ecoterra 11(4):32-39.
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2014, Volume 11, Issue 4
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