KARACHI, May 10: The Sindh Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) may include more industrial units or plants in its ongoing investigations into the dumping of hazardous waste in an open area of Abidabad, Site.
A senior Sepa official said on Wednesday that results of the samples of the waste material collected from the area on Saturday had been received from two laboratories.
The reports furnished by two separate centres of excellence in public sector universities identified at least six chemicals of hazardous effects on human health and life, the official added.
After going through the reports, the high-ups in the provincial environment department were of the view that the recent incidents of burn injuries to a number of children, including the nine-year-old boy Iftikhar who died in April in the industrial locality, should be an eye-opener.
The report prepared at the University of Karachi and University of Sindh suggested that a number of chemicals, including phosphorous pentoxide, aromatic alcohol, vinyl alcohol, magnesium hydroxide, aluminium silicate and calcium sulphate, were found in the samples.
Alumino silicate, a compound of aluminium, silica and bases, includes clays, mica, zeolites and constituents of glass porcelain and cement. Phosphorous pentoxide is mainly used to manufacture orthophosphoric acid in reaction with water; also as drying agent.
Exposure to most of the chemicals in question causes eye irritation and burning of skin, nausea, stomach ache when inhaled, and also effects eye, nose and throat. It proves deadly in some cases. Some of the chemicals are considered poisonous as well, said a source privy to the analysts.
About phosphorus pentoxide, a source said that it was a hygroscopic substance that absorbed moistures as was obvious from the burning of feet of a number of the children who came in contact with the waste.
Some of the chemicals found in the waste have been referred by chemists as highly reactive and as such it can be assumed that the industries involved in bleaching, dying and manufacturing of chemicals, paints and pharmaceuticals, and located in the surrounding areas of Abidabad, had been disposing of the waste in a way contravening the provisions of the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act-1997, added the source.It is learnt that a resident of Abidabad, Noorul Islam, 27, was badly affected by hazardous chemicals after coming in contact with the same while collecting samples for police and Sepa on May 6.
Medical Superintendent of the Civil Hospital Karachi Dr Kaleem Butt said on Wednesday that Mr Noor, who had landed in the sopping waste, was rescued by one of his friends, otherwise he would have got his entire body burnt. The patient admitted to the CHK Burns Ward about four days back, had 23 per cent burns below his knee but he was recovering now, Dr Butt added.
With the addition of Mr Noor, the number of persons brought to hospitals for treatment since March 15 has risen to five. A 10-year-old boy, Shiraz, was operated upon for amputation of his affected feet. Two other children were discharged after being provided treatment for two weeks at the NICH.
The test reports would be useful in initiating various actions, including sealing of the industrial units involved in anti-environment activities, undertaking further inquiries or investigations into environmental issues and putting hand on some more industrialists who had been dumping toxic waste in open areas of Abidabad, said the Sepa source.The owner of a chipboard manufacturing unit, who was arrested along with his manager on Monday, maintained that the practice dumping toxic waste in Abidabad was initiated by his contractor in the last couple of weeks. However, residents of Abidabad say that the practice of dumping toxic wastes in their area has been going on for several months.
Environmentalists underline the need for broadening the investigation as linking the incident of burn injuries to a particular unit or area may not serve the purpose.
Under the laws, “whoever contravenes or fails to comply with the provisions of PEPA-1997 or any order issued there shall be punishable with fine, which may extend to Rs1 million.”
The environmentalists further stress the dire need for Sepa to reinforce its system and procedures of surveys, surveillance, monitoring, measurements, examination, investigation, research, inspection and audit in order to prevent and control pollution.
Giving details of the arrests made on Monday, Chairman of the Site Association of Industries Ameen Bandukda has clarified that the owner and manager of the factory were not arrested from the office of his association, but from the office of the Site Ltd.
He, on behalf of all office-bearers of his association, expressed sympathy with the people affected in the unfortunate incidents and said that they considered toxic dumping as an offence against humanity. The culprits must be taken to task, he added.
It is learnt that police have obtained three-day remand of the two persons who were, on Tuesday, arrested on the charge of dumping toxic waste.
