KARACHI, March 3 An analysis of selected samples of used motor oil has shown that it contains a high concentration of heavy metals and poses a serious risk to the health of workers handling them, Dawn has learnt.

Most workers handling used motor oil do not wear protective clothing in Pakistan.

The used lubricant oil, mainly coming from automobile engines, is commonly used for servicing vehicles for protection from rust and other purposes. It is also “recycled” illegally in large quantities and sold as cheap lubricant oil.

Talking to Dawn, Dr Nasiruddin Khan, head of Karachi University's centralised science laboratory, said the research confirmed the findings of international studies already undertaken on the subject.

“It's no disclosure and people in the developed world are aware of the health and environmental hazards of used motor oil. They also regulate proper disposal of used automobile oil.”

“In countries like Pakistan, however, there is little implementation of environment rules and regulations and public awareness on the subject is almost zero. The issue is of prime importance considering the fact that automobiles are the largest source of used motor oil from among various sources - such as aircraft etc - and is the most common oil pollutant affecting public health.”

KU analysis

The KU laboratory collected samples of used motor oil from 15 sites across the city. According to the analysis, the average level of concentration of different metals found in the samples was lead 110ppm (parts per million), zinc 685ppm, barium 18.1ppm, arsenic 5ppm, cadmium 2.5ppm and chromium 3.2ppm.

The soil contaminated with used motor oil had about 100ppm arsenic, 20ppm cadmium, 1,800ppm lead and 285ppm barium. All these metals, the research says, are highly toxic with carcinogenic and teratogenic properties. Any direct contact with the skin is, therefore, extremely dangerous. In view of the complex nature of the used lubricants, it is necessary to consider the cumulative effect of the exposure to used lubricants, warns the KU study.

The increase in concentration of metals in soil occurs mainly due to accumulation. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are formed on account of combustion in motor engines, could concentrate up to 1,000 times more in used motor oil, the research says. PAHs are known to be highly toxic environmental contaminants with carcinogenic and mutagenic properties.

“The spray of a fine mist containing a high concentration of metals and hydrocarbons is a serious health hazard not only for men working at service stations but also for customers standing nearby. Persistent human exposure over a long period can even cause cancer while onlookers inhaling fumes of harmful oils may also develop nose, throat and skin infections,” said Dr Nasiruddin.

Regarding the disposal of used oil in the environment, he said used oil was to a certain extent biodegradable and its disposal in the atmosphere carried serious risks to natural systems. Improper disposal could contaminate soil and underground water and damage the sewerage.

Dawn spoke to a number of workers at various service stations in the city about the use and disposal of used motor oil. It came to light that used motor oil is either sold for different purposes or utilised for servicing of vehicles. “We sell it to people involved in shuttering businesses. They buy 205 litres for Rs4,000,” said a worker at a service station in Saddar. To protect vehicles from rust, used oil is sprayed under the floor of vehicles and on the floor of public buses, he said. When asked about any health problems that they might face, a majority of workers replied in the negative while others said they had now become used to the foul smell of the oil.

Patients at hospitals

According to specialists at major public sector hospitals, skin ailments caused by exposure to contaminated and toxic oil were very common because people were generally unaware of the extent of the damage the oil could cause to their bodies and if they were concerned about health issues, their employers showed the least concern.

Dr Sikander Mehar of the Sindh Institute of Skin Diseases said “Around a dozen people, most of them between 10 and 20 years of age working at auto service stations, report every week at the institute. Generally, they have allergic contact dermatitis, developed due to contact with allergens and irritants. The symptoms include itching, redness, skin damage and bristles.”

Agreeing with this, Dr Azam Samdani of the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre added that hydrocarbons present in used motor oils had a damaging effect on health, especially skin because of direct exposure. This could cause mild to severe reactions depending upon the duration and intensity of exposure. Often people come with eczema, at times with secondary infection, he said. Though he agreed that skin infections caused by exposure to contaminant oils was a common hazard and could lead to occupational disability, he rejected the possibility of development of skin A service station worker, wearing no protective clothing, uses the water jet from a pipe to spray used motor oil, kept in a receptacle, onto the underside of a

cancer in a short period.

Regarding any possible effects on eyes, Dr Idrees Edhi, an eye specialist at the Civil Hospital Karachi, said “Eyes are seriously affected. Most patients come with scars of foreign bodies. If the eyes of 100 mechanics are examined, 70 of them would have scars of foreign bodies, which if not taken out on time, can cause a loss of vision. Toxic fumes also affect the front portion of the eyes and cause infections.”

Prolonged exposure to benzenes found in petrochemical compounds causes bladder cancer, according to Dr Altaf Hashmi at the Sindh Institute of Urology. “The link between bladder cancer and benzene compounds was established in 1854 in Germany at a rubber industry. Absorbed through skin or inhaled, the traces of the compounds are detoxified in the liver, but they are re-activated when they are released from kidneys upon reaction with a chemical. The latent period for disease is from 20 to 25 years, though it doesn't pose any immediate hazard.

“Secondly, not all patients develop bladder cancer. According to the research, of the 18 per cent people who developed bladder cancer at the rubber industry, 40 per cent were smokers. The actual mechanics that work in the development of the disease is still not known.”

Relevant laws

Asked if there were any laws on the issue, Javed Ali Khan, the federal environment ministry's director-general, said Pakistan was a signatory to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal while national environment quality standards also existed on effluent discharge.

“There are uniform standards applied to any type of effluent discharge whether oil or chemical and pre-treatment of the waste is mandatory before its release into the environment,” he said, adding that the law's implementation rested with the provinces.

“The environment is a provincial subject. The EPAs (environment protection agencies) working in the provinces are required to ensure the implementation of the rules and regulations. There are also tribunals where cases of violations could be taken up.”

He, however, admitted that there was a big gap between the magnitude of the problem and the capacity of the EPAs.

Answering a question about the role of oil companies, an official of the Pakistan State Oil said their petrol pumps operated on a dealership basis and service stations were outsourced. “As such, the administration cannot exercise much control over them. Though there is no law specific to petrol pumps in Pakistan, certain limits have been set for effluent discharge.”

Recommendations

One way to address this problem was to use superior quality specification lubricant and high-efficiency filters, said Dr Nasiruddin Khan.

“This would be a pragmatic approach, as this can reduce the volume of used oil by almost half. Also, we need to set up collection units for used oil. In western countries, such units help in safe disposal and recycling of used oil.”

The necessary steps also include the provision of safety gear to workers at service stations, medical support to workers forced to hazardous jobs, closure of unauthorised collection of used oils and a ban on unauthorised construction of car washing/service centres in residential areas.