# Gospić environmental contamination concerns > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/gospi-environmental-contamination-concerns > Updated: 2026-08-04T10:48:22.000Z. Sources: 9. Developments: 2. In late July 2026, soil analyses at the former Mesna industrija Velebit site in Gospić revealed dangerous levels of heavy metals and buried infectious medical waste. Tests conducted by the Institute of Public Health Dr Andrija Štampar for the State Inspectorate confirmed elevated concentrations of antimony, lead, and cadmium. The civic initiative ‘Gospić je naš dom’ pressured authorities for transparency, expressing fears that antimony could poison water sources. While the Ministry of Environment and Energy, represented by Marija Vučković, pledged remediation and additional borehole analyses, locals noted that clean-up efforts had been delayed for over a year. A few days later, the ministry broadened its oversight to a newly built lithium-processing plant near Gospić. Citing an incorrect classification and the karst terrain’s high permeability, officials ordered a comprehensive environmental impact assessment before the plant could continue operating, highlighting concerns over potential leaks and groundwater contamination. By early August, health concerns escalated as experts identified additional risks. Professor Marin Glad of the Institute of Public Health of Primorsko-Goranska County warned that illegal waste disposal has caused chronic exposure to copper, zinc, lead, and antimony since 2022. Furthermore, reports indicated that residents face long-term health risks from both heavy metals and microplastic pollution, which threaten to damage natural ecosystems through the contamination of soil and water systems. ## Timeline ### 2026-08-04: Croatia Orders Gospić Lithium Plant to Conduct Full Environmental Study Croatia’s environment ministry has mandated a full impact study for the Gospić lithium plant, citing misclassification and risks to groundwater and health. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/croatia-orders-gospi-lithium-plant-to-conduct-full-environmental-study ### 2026-07-30: Gospić site identified as ecological bomb with hazardous waste Gospić waste site was confirmed as an ecological bomb with buried medical waste and high levels of toxic metals, prompting calls for groundwater monitoring and remediation. 8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/croatia-advances-search-for-missing-war-victims-at-petrovaka-dola --- Cite as: Gospić environmental contamination concerns. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/gospi-environmental-contamination-concerns