Gospić environmental crisis: Illegal hazardous waste dumping detected

illegal waste disposal Gospić environmental crisis PFAS contamination hazardous waste Croatian Parliament

An environmental crisis is unfolding in Gospić, Croatia, following the illegal dumping of approximately 37,000 tons of hazardous waste. Scientific analysis by the HAZU Scientific Council has confirmed that the soil at the site contains elevated concentrations of copper, zinc, lead, antimony, and microplastics. Furthermore, the presence of PFAS (perfluorinated and polyfluorinated substances) has been detected in groundwater downstream from the disposal site, posing risks to the karst landscape and local water resources.

Political tension is rising as the Most party has called for a vote of no confidence in the government and an extraordinary session of the Croatian Parliament. They allege that roughly 600 shipments of waste crossed the border without detection, suggesting systemic failures or organized crime involving state institutions. Members of the Parliamentary Committee on Environmental Protection, including Dušica Radojčić, are demanding a public hearing to establish accountability and a formal health risk assessment for the local population.

While current sampling indicates that the public water supply system remains uncontaminated, authorities have begun collecting data on private wells and cisterns as a preventive measure. Experts from the Croatian Geographical Society have warned that the karst terrain makes the area particularly vulnerable to rapid contaminant migration through underground channels.

Entities

Croatia · Dušica Radojčić · Gospić · HAZU · Hrvatski sabor · Most · Nikola Grmoja · Prijatelji životinja

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[○ 1 SOURCE] PFAS substances were detected in groundwater downstream from the waste site in Gospić.
[○ 1 SOURCE] Waste deposited in Gospić has been found to have ecotoxic properties, including medical waste residues.
[● 3 SOURCES] Soil in Gospić shows elevated concentrations of copper, zinc, lead, and antimony, along with microplastics. glas-slavonije.hr · vijesti.hrt.hr
[● 3 SOURCES] Data collection has begun regarding private wells, cisterns, and local waterworks outside the public system. glas-slavonije.hr · vijesti.hrt.hr
[● 3 SOURCES] The HAZU Scientific Council has called for the remediation of contaminated sites in Croatia and a review of waste management systems. glas-slavonije.hr · vijesti.hrt.hr
[○ 1 SOURCE] The association cites cases of severe animal neglect in Dvor, Učka, and Biograd as evidence of systemic failure. m.metro-portal.hr
[○ 1 SOURCE] The association Prijatelji životinja has requested the Croatian government to establish a specialized Animal Protection Inspection. m.metro-portal.hr
[● 3 SOURCES] Current sampling results do not indicate contamination of the public water supply system. glas-slavonije.hr · vijesti.hrt.hr
[● 3 SOURCES] The public water supply system has not been contaminated. vijesti.hrt.hr
[● 3 SOURCES] Soil and groundwater in Gospić show contamination from illegal waste disposal. vijesti.hrt.hr
[● 4 SOURCES] Waste at the Gospić site includes ecotoxic materials and medical waste residues. vijesti.hrt.hr · glas-slavonije.hr
[● 3 SOURCES] Soil analysis revealed elevated concentrations of copper, zinc, lead, and antimony. vijesti.hrt.hr