Croatia’s anti-corruption office (USKOK) has released the full expert report on approximately 37,000 tons of hazardous waste illegally deposited near the town of Gospić, following strong public interest in the case. The report, spanning more than 350 pages, with an additional 40-page supplement, details extensive environmental contamination and warns of significant risks to human health and the surrounding ecosystem.
According to the findings, experts identified massive quantities of mixed industrial waste with confirmed hazardous characteristics. The waste has been classified under the HP14 ecotoxicity category, meaning it poses both immediate and long-term threats to the environment. The measured toxicity levels exceeded the legal threshold by several times.
Heavy Metal Contamination Far Above Legal Limits
Soil analyses revealed alarming concentrations of heavy metals.
Copper levels reached 9,946 milligrams per kilogram of soil, nearly one hundred times higher than the permitted limit of around 100 milligrams. Lead concentrations measured 1,051 milligrams per kilogram, roughly ten times above the legal standard, while antimony was found at levels approximately 300 times higher than normally expected.
Experts also documented severe environmental damage, including contamination of vegetation, destruction of plant cover across nearly 17,800 square meters, and degradation of natural habitats.
Hydrogeological testing confirmed a direct connection between the landfill site and the groundwater system, creating a pathway through which pollutants can spread.
Pollution Could Spread Beyond the Immediate Area
The report states that contamination is most severe within a 50-meter radius of the dumping site. However, hazardous substances were also detected up to 200 meters away, where their impact remains measurable despite being less concentrated.
One of the biggest concerns is the possibility that pollutants could continue spreading through underground water, potentially affecting areas far beyond the original dumping site.
Experts concluded that the combination of the enormous quantity of waste, its hazardous properties, excessive contamination levels, and existing pathways for pollutant migration makes the site a permanent source of environmental danger.
Without urgent remediation, they warn, further environmental damage and increased risks to public health are considered both realistic and likely.
Concerns Over Groundwater and Future Land Use
The report raises serious questions about the long-term impact on groundwater and nearby agricultural land.
With copper concentrations around one hundred times above the permitted level for farmland and lead levels roughly ten times above legal limits, experts say it remains uncertain how long the soil would need to recover—or whether it can safely be used for agriculture again.
Additional concern stems from a geological fissure located near the site. According to investigators, the crack may allow plastics, chemicals, and contaminated water to move downstream, increasing the risk that pollution could spread well beyond the immediate landfill area.
Local Activists Pushed for Investigation
Environmental campaign group “Gospić je moj dom” (Gospić Is My Home) had previously warned authorities about the potential dangers.
Following meetings with government officials, the group succeeded in pushing for groundwater testing downstream from Gospić—an investigation that only began two years after the scandal first emerged.
The results have intensified concerns that contamination may extend beyond the immediate area surrounding the illegal waste site, potentially affecting nearby communities and water resources.
