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NEW STUDY REVEALS INCREASED POLLUTION

Acetone, mercury, chloroform and high concentrations of copper, iron, aluminum, and lead abound in the waters of the River Neva and other local waterways, according to a new study released by the local branch of the international environmental pressure group Greenpeace.

The levels of aluminium exceeded the norm by a staggering 775 times, and levels of iron by 320 times. Oil levels in the city waterways were 164 times above the norm, the research discovered.

The samples were processed at the St. Petersburg Center for Water Research and Control, the city’s largest laboratory in the field.

“Every single sample showed abnormal results revealing huge amounts of contamination,” said Dmitry Artamonov, head of the St. Petersburg branch of Greenpeace.

Environmental activists took water samples from six local rivers, including the Neva, the Okhta, the Okkervil, the Izhora, the Murzinka and the Slavyanka throughout May.

Every day in St. Petersburg, 3 million tons of used water is dumped into the Neva. Two thirds of that amount enters the river completely untreated, Greenpeace warns.

“This poisonous toxic concoction flowing straight into the rivers is a direct result of City Hall’s cynical policy,” Artamonov said. “Instead of encouraging and pushing industrial companies to install filtration systems, the city authorities — along with Vodokanal, St. Petersburg’s water treatment monopoly — are selling them indulgences at a comfortable price.”

Artamonov was referring to the much-criticized system of low fines for companies caught dumping industrial discharge into the Neva and other waterways.

The activist said he finds it revealing that the authorities either ignore or question the results of independent ...

EUROPEAN UNION TAKES ‘LEAP OF FAITH’ IN MEDVEDEV

KHANTY-MANSIISK — Russia and the European Union on Friday kicked off long-delayed talks on a new partnership pact after the EU appeared to concede to a key demand by President Dmitry Medvedev.

The EU seems to be taking a “leap of faith” in Medvedev, who was hosting his first EU-Russia summit, a political analyst said. The visiting EU leaders refused ...

Farce Hits Tower Hearing

A legally required public hearing into the planned 396-meter tall Okhta Center building, otherwise known as the Gazprom Tower, held by the district administration and the company in charge of the project descended into farce on Friday as public ire over the new building reached new heights.

The hearing ...