Dr. Mirjana Vrkljan Radošević speaks to Nova TV's Dnevnik about the fears of Gospić and Lika residents over illegal waste, her own analyses showing PFAS and heavy metals, and criticizes the Prime Minister's 'hysteria' remark.
Residents of Gospić and the wider Lika region are living in fear following the scandal over illegal waste in the area that has echoed across Croatia. Citizens who had suspected a problem for years are now demanding urgent remediation of the site and more frequent inspections, with particular concern over the rising number of young people being diagnosed with cancer.
Dr. Mirjana Vrkljan Radošević, a gynecologist from Gospić and former head of the City Council, who is affiliated with the party Pravedna Hrvatska, spoke to Nova TV's Dnevnik about the situation on the ground. She says concerned patients have been reaching out to her daily, especially in recent days.
"They're asking me for the address of the lab I sent my samples to because they now want to test things themselves, both on the islands and right on site, because they've unfortunately lost trust in state institutions," said Dr. Vrkljan Radošević.
When asked whether there is scientific evidence linking the waste to health problems among the local population, the doctor stressed that no official statistics exist, but the situation on the ground calls for caution.
"There are no scientific statistical data, but on the ground we see patients with cancer presenting frequently, younger people we didn't encounter ten years ago. We can't say directly that it's linked to this, but it raises suspicion," said Dr. Vrkljan Radošević.
She also says that although she sometimes drinks tap water, at home she uses a purification system and avoids drinking water straight from the tap.
Dr. Vrkljan Radošević also revealed that in March of last year, she personally sent samples for analysis to Germany, in cooperation with environmental activists there.
"On March 10, 2025, I took a sample of that material, that sand, from the entrance gate for analysis. I also took water from Senj, Karlobag, Udbina, and from a well at a depth of 60 meters. I sent it to Berlin in special vials they had sent me. I received the analysis showing that PFAS and heavy metals are present in that solid waste. The water was clean at the time, with no indication of PFAS or anything else inside," explained Dr. Vrkljan Radošević.
She also commented on the Prime Minister's statement, in which he said that part of the opposition is creating hysteria around the whole case.
"I think it's shameful that the Prime Minister treats the citizens of Gospić and the entire Lika region this way. We are not hysterical; we are simply concerned for our health because anyone who has read about the consequences of PFAS and heavy metals for people's health, and for nature in general, would naturally be worried. There's no hysteria here-if there were, we would have been at St. Mark's Square long ago, speeding things up," said Dr. Vrkljan Radošević.
Ličke vode (Lika Waterworks) has stated that additional water testing will be carried out in the area, and results from analyses conducted by the Croatian Institute of Public Health (HZJZ) are expected today. Once official water quality data from HZJZ are published tomorrow, experts and politicians are expected to provide new information.
