Romplumb - Baia Mare exceeded 3.5 times the maximum acceptable lead pollution level and 5.9 times the maximum acceptable cadmium pollution level between September 19th - 29th. Toxic particles spread on a radius of some 6 kilometers around Baia Mare, according to the Ministry for Environment and Sustainable Development. The maximum pollution levels are 5 milligrams /cubic meter for lead and 2 milligrams per cubic meter for sulphur dioxide.
"These pollution levels are regular business for Romplumb, which is known to have exceeded the maximum acceptable lead pollution level 20 and even 30 times," said the chief commissioner of the Maramures County Office of the National Environment Guard. He added that Romplumb had been fined and later sued for not having paid the fines for pollution. The official added that Romplumb"s was using an installation built in 1854, which had only seen minor upgrades in its lengthy service.