Not only did the floods cause major material damage on the affected sites, but also harmed the soil as flood water may have resulted in the leakage of chemical products such as mazut.
In a statement on Friday, the environmental administration clarified that diffuse pollution does not pose a major health risk because the products have been heavily diluted.
However, the health ministry recommends that fruit and vegetables that have been in direct contact with the floodwater should not be eaten as a precaution.
For next year, one should not worry about the garden, says Paul Tock of the environmental administration in an RTL interview. To further accelerate the decomposition process, the administration advises digging up the first 10 centimetres of soil. This allows the soil to breathe better and break down various organic pollutants more effectively.
More would not be necessary, reassures Paul Tock. It is best to wear gloves and wash your hands well afterwards - as you always do.
In cases where polluted sludge has to be removed, it is advisable to let it dry first and, in case of doubt, to contact a company that checks the pollution. A list can be found on emwëlt.lu.
