Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1528057
9 gozotoday | FRIDAY • 18 OCTOBER 2024 OPINION Dawn A. Saliba, Ph.D AN alarming environmental crisis may be unfolding in Victoria, Gozo. On 29 September, a shocking discovery was reported. Jason Clegg's post on the GOZONE Community Page described more than 10 dead waterfowl floating among living ducks and their chicks and scattered along the rocks of the long wa- terway near Victoria's LIDL (labelled "Duck Pond" on Google Maps). I live right there, but was on holiday in Amsterdam at the time. When I came home a couple of days later and went to investigate, I found four float- ing bird corpses and alerted the Environ- mental Resources Agency, Gozo's Animal Welfare and Public Cleansing Depart- ments, and the Gozo Ministry itself. In the next couple of days, the carcass- es were removed. I wasn't present, but a neighbour told me that the officials claimed the cause was runoff from recent rains bringing in pesticides from farms in Nadur. However, many locals, including myself, find this claim difficult to believe, especial- ly given the farm fields and livestock bor- dering the stream, as well as yet another Portelli construction project. Other neigh- bours filed complaints with the authorities and contacted Rural Gozo and Eco Gozo. None of us have received any information as of yet. In the meantime, I have been watching the amount of dead birds growing every day. Today alone, I counted at least nine floating in the stream, and there are no more chicks to be seen. Horribly, it's not just the waterfowl, but I also saw a dead rat floating in the stream and two dead baby hedgehogs in the adja- cent field. Worse, there are several farming fields near this stream and they are siphoning water from it to irrigate their crops--one field right next to it is growing giant heads of leafy greens, presumably for human consumption. Contaminated water used for crop irrigation can introduce harmful bacteria and toxins directly into the food chain. It is critical that investigation into this matter be properly conducted. This is not just a local environmental concern; it is a potential public health crisis. Water testing needs to be conducted without delay, and the findings made pub- lic. We certainly don't need poisonous toxins or dangerous bacteria to infiltrate Malta's food supply. Outbreaks in agricultural areas contain- ing bacteria like E. Coli, Salmonella, and Listeria have caused much illness and even fatalities. Last year, 150 people were infect- ed with E. Coli in Sweden, while nearly 100 people in thirteen countries in Europe were infected with Salmonella, leading to one fatality in Germany between 2022 and 2023. Just last June, 67 people were admitted to the hospital in the UK due to an e co- li outbreak. Should harmful pathogens or toxic chemicals enter Malta's food supply through this contaminated water, the im- pact could be devastating. As the World Health Organisation states, "The unsafe use of non-conventional sources of water in agriculture can lead to the accumulation of microbiological and chemical pollutants in crops, livestock products and soil and water resources and ultimately to severe health impacts among exposed food consumers and farm work- ers". The European Food Safety Authority also published a cautionary report about biological hazards involving contaminated water and pesticide residues in food. If left unchecked, this crisis could have far-reaching consequences for both wild- life and humans. Local and national agencies—such as the Environment & Resources Authority, the Water Regulatory and Auditing Unit, and the Environmental Health Directorate— must take swift action. Both the water and animal corpses must be thoroughly test- ed—with the results made transparent. The root cause of this contamination must be determined and eliminated. If pesticides are to blame, immediate and enforced bans are essential essential to prevent further contamination and envi- ronmental damage. This is a matter of public health. We have a right to know what is poisoning our wa- ter, our wildlife, and potentially entering our food supply. The government and relevant agencies must take responsibility and act quickly and decisively to safeguard our environ- ment and our lives. Lukas Micallef is President of Federazzjoni Kaccaturi Nassaba Konservazzjonisti (FKNK) Dead water fowl a sign of an environmental crisis in Gozo Water testing needs to be conducted without delay, and the findings made public. We certainly don't need poisonous toxins or dangerous bacteria to infiltrate Malta's food supply.