The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) have deployed an officer to the site of a burn that appears to have turned 'luminous green' due to contamination by a cancer-causing chemical.
Polmadie Burn, which runs into the River Clyde, is located on the site of the former J&J Whites Chemical plant - also known as Shawfield Chemical Works - which operated from 1820 to 1967 and produced up to 70% of the UK’s chromate products.
Back in March of 2019, Clyde Gateway demanded urgent action after chromium-VI was found flowing into the river from the burn, warning politicians at the time that the contaminated land posed an immediate risk to human health because of the toxic waste.
We reported earlier this week on the emergence of new photos of the burn, which appeared to show it looking significantly more discoloured than before - having first turned green back in February of 2018.
Following the latest images, SEPA has confirmed that they have sent an officer to inspect the burn, and said they were confident that the discolouration was a result of the "legacy of chromium contamination in the burn".
A spokesperson for SEPA said: “SEPA is aware of discolouration in the Polmadie Burn and has deployed an officer to the site.
“We are confident that this is a result of the legacy of chromium contamination in the burn, an issue which is the subject of significant work and investment to address.
"Anyone concerned about potential pollution incidents should contact us via our 24-hour online form at www.sepa.org.uk/report.”
Back in January, Glasgow City Council informed Glasgow Live that they have been working with a range of partners to address the historic ground pollution at the site, including work to divert an underground culvert away from the area and ground remediation.
These works are being undertaken in a phased manner over a 15-20 year period and addressing this issue in full is not expected until 2027.
