A significant environmental emergency has unfolded in the West Midlands as sodium cyanide, a highly toxic chemical, has contaminated a stretch of canal in Walsall, prompting urgent warnings from local authorities. The spillage, which occurred in Pleck on 12 August, has led to fears of severe health implications for anyone coming into contact with the affected waters.
Walsall Council has issued a stern advisory for the public to steer clear of the canal areas extending from the Walsall lock flight to the lock flights at Rushall, Ryders Green, and Perry Barr. The Environment Agency, having alerted the council to the incident, is actively conducting tests for sodium cyanide and other harmful substances within the canal. The health risks associated with sodium cyanide are grave, as ingestion or physical contact can release the toxin into the body, potentially causing symptoms ranging from headaches and nausea to more severe effects like changes in heart rate and loss of consciousness, as outlined by Public Health England.
Residents who have come into contact with the canal water and are experiencing ill effects have been urged to seek immediate medical advice by calling 111, or 999 in cases of emergency. Furthermore, the council has warned against the consumption of any fish caught from the contaminated canal. Sodium cyanide, which finds its application in various industrial processes including metal cleaning and plating, poses a significant risk to public health and the environment, necessitating a coordinated response.
Garry Perry, the leader of Walsall Council, emphasised the council’s commitment to public safety, advising the community to avoid the affected canal and towpaths. The response to the crisis involves collaboration among multiple agencies, including the West Midlands police and fire services, the Canal and Rivers Trust, Severn Trent Water, and both Walsall and Sandwell councils, alongside the Environment Agency. This collective effort underscores the severity of the situation and the imperative to mitigate the spill’s impact on both human health and the environment
News team
