The Background: From Scandal to Science

Earlier this year, during the parliamentary election campaign, the environmental safety of plants such as Samsung SDI in Göd and SK Innovation in Komárom became a central point of contention.

Media reports and opposition figures had alleged that tens of thousands of residents were being exposed to teratogenic and carcinogenic substances, claiming that over 88 tons of toxic materials were being released into the air annually.

While the government dismissed these claims as a "smear campaign," pointing to regular inspections by the Pest County Government Office, public anxiety remained high. In response, Greenpeace conducted its own independent sampling in March 2026 to verify the safety of local environments.

The Investigation Findings

Experts collected 10 water samples from shallow private wells in residential areas near the following sites:

* Göd: Near the Samsung SDI plant.

* Komárom: Near the SK battery factories and NMP processing facilities.

* Sóskút & Tárnok: Near the Dongwha electrolyte plant.

The laboratory analysis specifically targeted hazardous metals — including antimony, arsenic, cobalt, lithium, and nickel—as well as the solvent N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP).

The Conclusion: Clear Results

The results were definitive: no contamination exceeding safety limits or posing health risks was found in any of the samples.

Lithium levels: While one sample in Komárom showed slightly elevated lithium, the concentration remained "orders of magnitude" lower than what would be considered a risk to human health.

Metals & Solvents: None of the other samples showed significant traces of the toxic substances previously alleged in press reports.

Setting the Record Straight

Greenpeace has shared these findings with local residents and decision-makers, effectively refuting the claims of widespread poisoning that dominated the headlines in February.

While some technical irregularities have occurred within factory walls in the past—such as a fine issued in March 2025 for graphite dust — this independent data confirms that the surrounding residential water supplies in Hungary remain safe.

Photo: Samsung Plant Göd

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