Scientist warns use of chemical dispersant poses greater risks
An official from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has warned of greater risks on the use of of the chemical dispersants in Guimaras.
"Yes, the chemical dispersants (used in Guimaras clean-up) is toxic. Lahat ng ginagawa natin sa scientia at medicina laging may harm yan, sa gamot may side effects pero kailangan mo laging isipin na dapat yun benepisyo na gusto mong makuha should outweigh the risk or the harm," Dr. Jaime Montoya, executive director of the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD) of the DOST, said pertaining to the chemical dispersants used by the Philippine Coast Guard to clean up the oil spill.
"Does it actually outweigh the potential harm to the ecological environment?" Montoya stressed. "Kasi pupunta din yan sa shore and eventually sa tao na maaring maexpose dun sa chemicals na ito,"
Montoya made the statement in reaction to a scientific study conducted by the Silliman University, which cautioned against the use of chemical oil dispersants in cleaning the oil spill.
The university earlier raised the issue following their investigation revealing that "the effects of dispersants on living organisms are worse that the actual effects of the oil spill."
Montoya, however, said that the agencies concerned in containing the oil spill should weigh the risk and benefit of using chemical dispersants.
Montoya added that there is no really "global experts" in this case because it is a rare happening in any country.
He said the experiences of other countries in handling oil spill are the government's basis of response.
He also said that there are other ways of treating the oil spill like the use of coconut and cornhusks as oil absorbents.
"Maraming substitutes, dapat alamin kung anong pinakamaganda yun ang dapat asikasuhin, importante dito maaddress natin yun problema taking into consideration not only the actual oil spill itself but its acute ad long term effect in the environment and the population," he said.
On August 11, the M/T Solar I, which is carrying more than two million of bunker fuel, sank off Guimaras waters causing the worst-ever oil spill in the country. (PNA)