カムチャツカ海洋汚染、大規模な油膜形成　千島列島に向かって南へ

【モスクワＡＦＰ＝時事】ロシアのカムチャツカ地方で、海洋生物の大量死を引き起こした有毒廃棄物の流出とみられる海洋汚染により、カムチャツカ半島に沿って40キロにわたる油膜が形成されていることが分かった。研究者らが9日、明らかにした。油膜は太平洋を南に向かって移動しているという。（写真はロシア極東カムチャツカ半島ハラクティルビーチの近海。国際環境NGOグリーンピース提供）
　極東連邦総合大学は、油膜は緑色で、幅１００～３００メートルに及ぶ箇所もある。異常な泡を立てながら、カムチャツカ半島に沿って南に移動していると発表した。
　油膜はこれまで、静止状態で、ほぼ１か所の海岸にとどまっていると考えられていたが、研究者らが航空撮影を行ったところ「小さくなることなく」、日本と領有権を争うクリール諸島（北方領土を含む千島列島）に向かって「徐々に南に移動している」ことが分かったという。
　研究者らは悪天候にもかかわらず、ヘリコプターからサンプルを収集。分析は極東のウラジオストクで行う予定だという。
　この海洋汚染は９月、地元のサーファーらが目の痛みを訴え、海水の色が変わり、異臭を放っていたと報告したことで発覚。アザラシやタコ、ウニなどの海洋生物の死骸が大量に打ち上げられているのが発見された。
　カムチャツカ地方のウラジーミル・ソロドフ知事は以前、海洋汚染の発生源について、同地方の主要都市ペトロパブロフスクカムチャツキーから３５キロ離れたコゼルスキーに位置する、旧ソ連時代から地下深くに有害物質を貯蔵していた場所の可能性が高いとの見解を示していた。
　複数の専門家らは、近隣の軍事施設から流出したヘプチルやサミンのような有毒なロケット燃料や混合物質が、汚染の原因の可能性があるとしている。
　ソロドフ氏は８日、サンプルの検査結果からヘプチルは原因ではないと明言。検査では燃料物質が検出されたが、海洋生物の大量死を招くほどの濃度ではなかったという。
　ソロドフ氏によると、これまでに約２０人が検査を受け、８人が３度の角膜化学熱傷と診断された。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2020/10/09-15:54）

Suspected toxic waste pollution off Russia's Kamchatka peninsula that caused the mass deaths of marine animals has formed a moving slick stretching 40 kilometres (25 miles) along the Pacific coastline, researchers said Thursday.
The Far Eastern Federal University said in a statement the pollution was between 100 and 300 metres (330-1,000 feet) wide in some places, had a green hue and was creating an unusual foam while floating south along the Russian coast.
The waste was previously thought to be stationary and confined mostly to one beach, but researchers who carried out aerial photography said it was gradually moving south towards the contested Kuril Islands without diminishing in size.
Kirill Vinnikov, the head of a biology lab at the university, also noted that the pollution was not disintegrating and had clear dimensions.
The statement said researchers collected pollution samples from a helicopter despite difficult weather conditions and an analysis will be carried out in Russia's far eastern city of Vladivostok.
Locals sounded the alarm in September as surfers experienced stinging eyes after being in the water and sea creatures including seals, octopuses and sea urchins washed up dead.
The Russian branch of Greenpeace has described the situation as an ecological disaster.
Russian authorities on Wednesday opened a criminal probe, citing the illegal handling of dangerous substances and pollution of the marine environment.
Kamchatka governor Vladimir Solodov previously said the most likely source was the Kozelsky site, 35 kilometres (20 miles) outside the region's main city Petropavlovsk-Kamchatksy and used since the Soviet era to store poisonous substances deep in the ground.
Several experts suggested that toxic rocket fuel such as heptyl or samin and melange from a nearby military facility could be responsible for the damage.
Solodov on Thursday ruled out that heptyl was behind the incident, saying samples had come back negative.
He said tests indicated the presence of fuel products but not in high enough concentrations to wipe out marine animals in such large numbers.
The governor, who took office several weeks ago, said around 20 people were examined and eight were diagnosed with third-degree corneal burns.
Vinnikov of The Far Eastern Federal University said scientists had found that streams next to the Kozelsky site are completely ecologically clean.
We observed four groups of organisms which can live only in crystal-clear water without any contaminants such as heptyl and other toxic chemicals, he was quoted as saying.
Conservation group WWF said it was not currently possible to say how many fish died.
The death of fish and seabed creatures is dangerous for both sea birds and mammals, WWF said, adding that sea otters that eat urchins and clams could be among the most affected animals.