Danube: Cyanide Spill

Children's Literature

In January 2000, a flooded gold mine in Romaine spilled 118 tons of cyanide into the Tisza River which reached the Danube river, the second longest European river running through eight nations. Waterways were polluted and thousands of fish and animals died. Eventually, the river Tisza was restocked with fish, but the spilled cyanide was considered Europe's worst disaster since the nuclear reactor explosion in Chernobyl. In this book, Bryan examines the causes of the spill, why cyanide is used in mining, the damages to the environment from cyanide poisoning, protective measures, and recovery time. Some nations such as a Turkey placed a ban on cyanide mining, but other countries searched for new leaching processes and are still using cyanide in mining. A positive step was taken to control pollution when the European Union, designed to help regulate international commerce, pledged to help clean up the mess and took measures to prevent another accident. Still, as Bryan points out, a balance is needed between job opportunities and safe environmental practices. Colorful pictures, informative sidebars, a time line, word glossary, and further information is included. 2004, World Almanac Library, Ages 10 up.
— Della A.Yannuzzi

School Library Journal

Gr 4-6-Three man-made ecological disasters point up the dangers of modern technology. Danube tells how, in 2000, a cyanide spill spread from Romania to cause devastating fish and wildlife die-offs in four countries. Since cyanide is used for mining gold in many other nations, including the United States, this accident holds implications for other areas. Many of the books written about the Exxon Valdez incident, such as Tom Schouweiler's The Exxon Valdez Oil Spill (Lucent, 1991; o.p.), were published before the official end of clean-up efforts. Bryan's work is distinguished by the perspective of more than 10 years and shows some of the long-term effects. Describing the oldest of the three disasters, Love Canal may seem like ancient history to today's students. Yet the author makes clear that thousands of hazardous chemical dumps remain to be cleaned up in the United States. All three volumes include sidebars, charts, color photographs, and bold section headings. The "Further Information" pages list a few books, videos, and Web sites, all without publication dates. A map showing each incident's location is also included. Unfortunately, Love Canal appears in the Watertown area on the map of New York instead of in its actual Niagara Falls location. Report writers may benefit from the perspectives these works provide, since each covers the disaster's causes, effects, solutions, and legal ramifications. The tone is generally nonjudgmental while clearly reporting the damage done.-Ann G. Brouse, Steele Memorial Library, Elmira, NY Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.