Gospić site identified as ecological bomb with hazardous waste
Analyses of soil samples taken at the former Mesna industrija Velebit site in Gospić confirmed the presence of dangerous waste, including buried infectious medical waste. The tests, carried out in 2024 by the Institute of Public Health Dr Andrija Štampar for the State Inspectorate, showed elevated concentrations of heavy metals such as antimony, lead and cadmium.
The civic initiative “Gospić je naš dom” pressured authorities to release the findings. Residents fear that the toxic metals could contaminate soil and groundwater, especially antimony, which is highly poisonous if it reaches water sources. The initiative has called for systematic monitoring of groundwater quality near the site.
The Ministry of Environment and Energy, represented by Marija Vučković, announced plans for remediation and said additional bore‑hole analyses would be requested to assess deeper contamination. Officials, including the ombudsman and the minister, have visited the location and pledged a swift clean‑up, but locals note that the process has been delayed for more than a year.
Entities: Croatian Ministry of Veterans · Fund for Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency · Gospić · Gospić je naš dom · Institute of Public Health Dr Andrija Štampar · Marija Vučković · Mesna industrija Velebit · Petrovačka Dola · Tomo Medved · Vukovar
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Ministry of Environment and Energy, represented by Marija Vučković, announced plans for remediation and requested further bore‑hole analyses. (8d1dff15-5cc0-4f5b-9633-199a4bdae619, be57090a-0e84-4cea-9992-e5d73fb76895, 5dcb63cc-8ce8-4a2a-a021-95f14b3444ea)
- [● 4 SOURCES] The waste contains elevated levels of heavy metals, especially antimony, lead and cadmium. (b6bcfb40-a9f3-4c2d-a358-49fe1b8e5993, 8d1dff15-5cc0-4f5b-9633-199a4bdae619, be57090a-0e84-4cea-9992-e5d73fb76895, 5dcb63)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Analyses of soil samples at the former Mesna industrija Velebit site in Gospić confirmed the presence of dangerous waste, including buried infectious medical waste. (b6bcfb40-a9f3-4c2d-a358-49fe1b8e5993, 8d1dff15-5cc0-4f5b-9633-199a4bdae619, be57090a-0e84-4cea-9992-e5d73fb76895, 5dcb63)
- [● 2 SOURCES] The initiative “Gospić je naš dom” has called for systematic monitoring of groundwater quality near the site. (b6bcfb40-a9f3-4c2d-a358-49fe1b8e5993, 8d1dff15-5cc0-4f5b-9633-199a4bdae619)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Antimony is a highly toxic heavy metal that can pollute soil and groundwater. (b6bcfb40-a9f3-4c2d-a358-49fe1b8e5993)
- [● 2 SOURCES] The analyses were performed by the Institute of Public Health Dr Andrija Štampar for the State Inspectorate in 2024, with results published later. (b6bcfb40-a9f3-4c2d-a358-49fe1b8e5993, 8d1dff15-5cc0-4f5b-9633-199a4bdae619)