Oil spill contaminates water, soil in 3 brgys
Health authorities have warned against the intake of water sourced from wells near the coastline after a laboratory examination showed that water and soil samples from three barangays in Guimaras were positive for contamination by the oil spill.
Department of Health (DOH) regional office OIC, Dr. Edgardo Gonzaga said during Friday's briefing that results of a laboratory examination conducted last September 4-6 showed 'really high' levels of polyaromatic hydrocarbons in water and soil samples taken from Barangays Tando, Cabalagnan and Lapaz, all in Nueva Valencia town, considered the municipality hardest hit by the oil spill.
Gonzaga said that the drinking water and the soil in Brgy. Tando has high levels of polyaromatic hydrocarbons. Samples of drinking water taken from a well within 100 meters from the coastline showed amounts of benzoflouranthene and benzoberylene at 0.56 ug/ml and 0.55 ug/ml, respectively, well above the safe level of 0.04 mg/kg/day, according to a copy of the laboratory result.
Soil samples taken from Brgys. Tando, Lapaz and Cabalagnan were tested positive for other type of polyaromatic hydrocarbons. Gonzaga said that the soil came into contact with the bunker oil, hence the high amounts of polyaromatic hydrocarbons.
Gonzaga advised residents from consuming contaminated water.
"They should not get their waters from the wells where the samples were taken," Gonzaga he said.
If contaminated water is taken in, it would cause gastro-intestinal illnesses and the person would experience nausea, vomiting and "some sort of irritation," he explained. Food and waterborne diseases might also arise from the intake of contaminated water.
With this, the DOH started supplying the residents with bottled waters, especially those in the evacuation centers.
The DOH plans to conduct another round of tests in these areas to see if there have been changes in the level of toxic elements, Gonzaga said.
The DOH central office will also be sending over replacement cartridges for the half-face masks used by coastal cleaners. The masks protect the coastal cleaners against the inhalation of toxic fumes coming from bunker fuel.
Over the week, the DOH conducted 921 consultations in Guimaras. Respiratory illnesses account for 68%, Gonzaga reported. Gastrointestinal illnesses, skin and eye irritations account for the rest.
Although about 80% of the total number of coastal cleaners are now using half face masks, 295 coastal cleaners, or 32% of those who underwent medical check up, had signs and symptoms of various respiratory illnesses.
Gonzaga brushed off speculations that the half face masks are inadequate protection from the toxic fumes.
"The coastal cleaners might have just taken off their masks when they took a rest, thus inhaling toxic fumes," he said, adding that "as long as there is some exposure to the oil, there will still be signs and symptoms (of respiratory problems)."