Health Minister: All Lika water, soil, and food samples are clean

Croatia's Health Minister Irena Hrstić has assured the public that all tested samples of water, soil, and food in the Lika region are completely normal, despite concerns over illegally dumped waste. Speaking in Barban, Hrstić stated that the Ministry of Health has been monitoring the health situation of citizens since the beginning of the issue. "All tested samples, including water, soil, and food, are completely normal, even the latest sampling conducted on August 17th. The results have been consistently normal," she emphasized before the 51st Trka na prstenac race. The minister added that monitoring will be intensified, and the public will be regularly informed of the findings. Responding to a question about resolving the problem of illegal waste disposal in Lika, Hrstić stressed that the health records of citizens in Ličko-senjska County and Gospić are continuously monitored, as in every county in Croatia. She noted that, currently, the incidence of malignant diseases in Lika is lower than the national average. "You cannot measure the effect on health acutely, nor in this situation, and it is never caused by a single cause but by multiple factors. We will continuously monitor the situation, and when legal grounds permit, we will approach remediation in a professional and safe manner, which is most important. It's not just about coming with a shovel to dig out the waste and remove it, but it needs to be resolved safely so that the pollution, which is currently confined to the disposal site, remains at the disposal site," Hrstić explained. Commenting on the planned protest by Lika residents in Zagreb, she acknowledged their right to express their opinions. Hrstić recalled that government representatives had attended a session of the parliamentary Committee for Environmental Protection in Gospić to discuss the issue, even though the session was interrupted. She stated that they remained to discuss with representatives of citizen associations and had communicated with representatives of citizen initiatives during a parliamentary session. "We simply have a certain challenge and problem, and we will solve it," the health minister concluded.

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All tested samples, including water, soil, and food, are completely normal, even the latest sampling conducted on August 17th. The results have been consistently normal