Tests at likely Progress debris drop place expose no toxic agents

GORNO-ALTAISK, August 29 (Itar-Tass) -- The tests of the latest ground
and water samples, which were taken at the place, where some Progress
freighter debris could have fallen out in the Republic of Altai, exposed
no dangerous toxic agents, particularly no heptyl traces. The samples were
taken near the village of Karakoksha in the Choya district in the Republic
of Altai and from the rivers Biya, Karakoksha, Sarakoksha flowing in the
district, the Altai republican branch of the Russian consumer rights
watchdog (Rospotrebnadzor) reported in Gorno-Altaisk.
The Rospotrebnadzor republican branch continues the monitoring of the
sanitary and epidemiological situation in the likely place of some
Progress debris collapse. As for the radiation situation, the radiation
level is normal, which is natural for this locality, including Karakoksha.
On Sunday the Rospotrebnadzor team has taken three water samples (in
the rivers Biya, Sarakoksha, Karakoksha), a ground sample (near the
village of Karakoksha). The samples were passed to the center of hygiene
and epidemiology in the Altai Territory.
The inspection was completed at the central hospitals in the Choya,
Chemal, Ongudai, Ulagan districts of the republic and at the district
hospital in the village of Karakoksha on Sunday. No people with the
symptoms of toxic poisonings were brought to the republican hospitals. The
sanitary and epidemiological situation is stable in the republic.
Preventive measures will be taken until August 30. Since already more than
four days passed after the space freighter collapse and no people turned
for medical aid, the sanitary and hygienic situation can hardly
deteriorate, Rospotrebnadzor believes.