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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Environment
Philip Oltermann in Berlin

Oder river: mystery of mass die-off of fish lingers as no toxic substances found

Fish Oder Poland
Dead fish at Oder river
Poland rejected claims by German officials that water samples contained high levels of mercury. Both governments have said a chemical spillage is likely to blame. Photograph: Clemens Bilan/EPA

Mystery continues to surround the cause behind a “catastrophic” mass die-off of fish in the Oder River, after Polish scientists said laboratory tests found elevated salt levels but no other toxic substances in the central European waterway.

German municipalities have banned bathing and fishing in the Oder after thousands of dead fish were found floating in the 520 mile (840km) river, which runs from the Czech Republic to the Baltic Sea along the border between Germany and Poland.

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