The phosphate shipment which sank in the Nile on Tuesday includes uranium and cadmium, which are both toxic substances, said political activist Mamdouh Hamza in a phone-in interview on Sunday evening on Al-Asema Channel.
"I did not say the shipment included uranium only, it included phosphate, which contains uranium and cadmium impurities. Both are toxic substances," he said.
"Each 5 tons of phosphate carries 5 grams of uranium," Hamza added.
"There is no reason to fear phosphate itself. The problem is with the toxic materials it carries, as they can be lethal," Hamza said.
A ship carrying 500 tons of phosphate sank in the Nile on Tuesday 21 April in the Qena Governorate, after hitting a bridge.
The ship carrier, "Sinai", is affiliated with the Armed Forces. The vessel was traveling from Aswan to Cairo, when it crashed into the Dndara bridge, which resulted in the cargo falling overboard. The crew memebers survived the accident.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
