Private communication
Highly Confidential
To the Department of Agriculture (classified information)
According to the research, there has been widespread contamination in seventeen of the twenty-eight areas tested. The contamination in the surface seems to be superficial, but enough to have caused serious damage. Many species of insects and birds seem to have suffered a considerable effect, in some cases, bringing them close to the extinction in the area affected. This is likely to have a huge impact in the balance of the ecosystem. In the case of cattle in nearby areas, we can only recommend to initiate large-scale testing and sacrifice those animals affected as the toxicity, while it does not probably pose a direct threat to humans, it is higher that the recommended in health standards.
The contamination is much severe in the underground water, particularly in the Hivttenvann valley, and in three rivers and several tributaries (see attached document number 2). Without proper treatment, those waters should be allowed for human consumption, for the severe risks that it poses to health. Obviously, the risk may defer depending the level of contamination. Through our analysis, we have detected several substances which are present in the mentioned samples:
Type #1 is a toxicant which is associated with cardiac and central nervous system diseases in humans. Our research has also showed that it can also causes malformations, incomplete ossification of skull, and decreased fetal body weights in rats.
Type #2 is a phosphonate which is typically used in several pesticides, including the MDX-120, which was banned by the National Commission of Health in 2020. Skin exposure to this substance can cause irritation and dermatitis, as well as mild conjuctivitis and corneal injury. It is also found to cause significant mortality in wild bees and bumblebees when sprayed directly on them, as it is estimated that the substance may block the tracheal system of the bees. This gives force to the air hypothesis as main source of the contamination. It is also highly toxic for aquatic species, which explain the highly rate of death in those species in the area.
However, in relation with humans, when diluted in water, the toxicity of Type #2 considerably decreases, and it is not as highly toxic as its direct contact. However, water contaminated by Type #2 may still contribute can still cause corrosive effects in the digestive system, as well as kidney and liver damage. If the toxicity is higher than average, as it was found in nine of the twenty-one samples analyzed, it can also lead to respiratory distress, impaired conscioussness, pulmonary and breath problems, arhythmias, and kidney failure. In the most serious cases, the death is often preceded by bradycardia and ventricular arrhythmias.
Type #3 is a hydrocarbon which was also used in herbidices and insecticides in the past. According to our knowledge, the use of this substance has decreased in the last two decades, and the most common pesticide that was ever approved to use in Jugland stopped to be industrially produced in 2014. Oral exposure to Type #3 has a high toxicity. Its initial effects are likely coughing, eye irritation, suffocation, burning in the respiratory tract, stomach pains, and vomiting. It is three times as dense as air and, therefore, in an open environment has a tendency to fall toward the ground, which increases its toxicity. Higher exposure to Type #3 may increase stillbirth and neonatal mortality. However, its toxicity considerably reduced when diluted in water and other substances. It is not likely that water contaminated with Type #3 is lethal, although its consumption is not recommended.
Type #4 is an organochloride, also found in some variants of pesticide MDX-120. Type #4 may contribute to fatty changes in the livers, hyperexcitability and convlusion, and inhibition of reproduction in animals, as well as interfering with estrogen-mediated functions such as ovulation and pregnancy. Research has showed that also induced liver cancer by interaction with strogen in female rodents. The amount of Type #4 of most samples analysis is, however, moderately low, at least compared to the other substances found. The toxicity in water contaminated by Type #4 is higher for children than for adults.
Type #5 is an organochloride, used in several herbicides, which is highly toxic to mammals, including humans, potentially leading to acute respiratory distress. However, when diluted is much less toxic, and considering the samples analyzed, it does not poses a serious health risk given the low amount in the contaminated water. However, we do not consider that such water recommendable for human or agriculture, particularly combined with the other toxic substances analyzed.
We consider that the sources of the contaminated water are not recommended for human use, particularly in the cases of underground water, where the contamination is more severe, until proper treatment is attained. For that aim, in order to provide safe drinking water to the population in the affected areas it will be required a scheme for improvement of water supply that we proportionate in the following...
Meamwhile, in Midtenstadt, the Office of the National Council, as the National Assembly was to hold an extraordinary session to confirm the creation of a Special Committee to investigate the crisis in Austland, announced that Secretary Grimwaldyna Nygaard will address the situation in a press conference on the afternoon.