Spincourt

Sometimes historical contamination takes on serious proportions, as in Spincourt. In the forests of Spincourt lies an open area, aptly named the Place-à-Gaz. Here, after World War I, 200,000 gas shells were destroyed. Chlorine, mustard gas, and phosphine were the most commonly used in World War I. Here in Sincourt, shells of the Croix Bleu type typically ended up. The name came from the blue, cross-shaped marking on the casings. The shells contained organic arsenic compounds that caused severe vomiting. After the war, the gas was burned, but the extremely toxic arsenic remained in the ash residue. There is more than 300 times the permitted level of arsenic in the soil. Additionally, other heavy metals are also present in the soil, such as cadmium and mercury.

eos - maandblad over wetenschap