Benzene levels drop in Muskiz, but preventive measures remain in place

The Basque Government has reported that the level of benzene detected in the Muskiz area as a result of the incidence in Petronor continues to decline. According to the latest monitoring by the Air Quality Network, the level of benzene at 22:00 was below 2 micrograms per cubic metre, values significantly lower than those that led yesterday to the activation of preventive recommendations.

However, Public Health has called for extreme caution and continued vigilance in the face of possible changes, especially given the possibility of rising temperatures during the day, which will affect pollution levels.

Until9:00 PM another review , the recommendations to reduce exposure have been maintained. Measures for all citizens include staying whenever possible in indoor enclosed spaces, keeping doors and windows closed, avoiding intense outdoor physical activity and limiting the prolonged ventilation of homes, with priority given to recirculation air conditioning systems.

Special attention has also been paid to vulnerable groups, such as persons with respiratory or cardiovascular diseases, minors, the elderly and pregnant women, who must avoid unnecessary exposure to external air during the course of the incident. In the case of educational, sports and socio-health centres, it is recommended that outdoor activities be suspended and minors and dependents remain in the interior with controlled ventilation.

The mayor of Muskiz, Eduardo Briones, has also recommended on Radio Euskadinot to go out on the street and not to take the children to school.

Petronor has assured us that it is implementing all the corrective measures set out in the security protocols to control the incident andto reduce the emissionsof  as quickly as possible. 

An incivism in Petronor has caused some of the fuel in the petrol tank to evaporate, causing air pollution.