CHEMICAL testing of water close to a leaking gas platform in the North Sea indicates there has been "no direct marine contamination", according to the Scottish Government.
Marine Scotland scientists tested water and sediment samples gathered two miles from the Elgin platform, which began leaking gas last month.
The Government claims the results, which came as experts visited the platform to continue their attempts to plug the leak, reveal that the environmental impact of the incident has so far been minimal.
However, campaigners have warned that there may be longer-term effects yet to be seen.
A total of 238 staff were evacuated from the platform, around 150 miles from Aberdeen, after the leak was discovered.
About 200,000 cubic metres of gas were said to be escaping above sea level from the platform each day, coming out from a rock formation below the sea.
Scottish Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead said: "I'm pleased that chemical analysis of water and sediment samples is now available, which adds to the sensory fish testing work completed last week.
"All data gathered to date continues to demonstrate that the effects on the marine environment of the Elgin gas leak are so far minimal. Trace amounts of oil in water samples from one of the six sites sampled was detected but this isn't directly linked to the gas leak and is at concentrations that do not warrant a specific environmental concern."
The traces are likely to be linked to shipping or other industrial work, the Government said.
Friends of the Earth (FoE) Scotland yesterday welcomed the results but warned that there is still potential for environmental damage.
Chief executive of the campaign group, Stan Blackley, said: "This is welcome news, but it doesn't necessarily mean that hidden and longer-term environmental damage is not being caused to the waters, seabed and wildlife in the area.
"Furthermore, it completely ignores the negative impact that the release of massive amounts of methane into the atmosphere is having."
Full results from fish chemical analysis are expected next week.
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