Environmental alert up in Antique waters as toxic cargo found in sunken vessel
Like the MV Princess of the Stars, the MV Ocean Papa lies
overturned with its bow sticking out from the water some
5 kilometers off the coast of Culasi, Antique.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has raised an environmental alert after it discovered that a cargo ship that sank off the coast of Antique at the height of typhoon "Frank" on June 21 was carrying tons of a carcinogenic toxic substance.
DENR Regional Executive Director Lormelyn Claudio said they have alerted local government units and residents of Culasi town and neighboring communities in Antique against the possible contamination from exposure to the toxic substance toluene di-isocyanate (TDI).
A DENR-Western Visayas report said that 16 metric tons of TDI placed in 80 drums were among the cargo of the MV Ocean Papa which sank at noon of June 21 near Mararison Island, around 5.6 km from the coast of Culasi. The cargo ship was en route to Iloilo City from Manila when it sank due to strong winds and rough seas.
Two of the vessel's crew members, including ship captain Carlo Kho, died, while two others remain missing. Twenty four crew members were rescued, according to Commodore William Melad, Coast District Commander in Western Visayas.
Culasi, located northwest of Panay Island, is 86 km north of the capital of San Jose, Antique and 88 km south of the capital town of Kalibo in Aklan.
The DENR Environmental Management Bureau said TDI is a main ingredient in the production of flexible polyurethane foam and other polyurethane applications including synthetic leather, coated fabrics, paints and adhesives. It said the substance is toxic and should be recovered as soon as possible.
"The chemical has a long term carcinogenic effects on human," said a report of the DENR EMB dated July 3.
TDI, a clear, pale yellow liquid with a sharp, pungent odor is "extremely toxic from acute (short-term) and chronic (long-term) exposures," according to the US Environmental Protection Agency Technological Transfer Network Air Toxics Website (http://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/hlthef/toluene2.html).
It said that acute exposure to high levels of TDI in humans through inhalation results in severe irritation of the skin and eyes and affects the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and central nervous systems. While chronic inhalation exposure can result to a significant decrease in lung function , an asthma-like reaction characterized by wheezing, dyspnea, and bronchial constriction.
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry of the US Department of Health and Human Services (http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/mhmi/mmg179.html) said children are more vulnerable to the toxic substance because of their relatively larger surface area:body weight ratio.
While it said that there was no information pertaining to ingestion of TDI, "ingestion would probably produce chemical burns of the lips, mouth, throat, esophagus, and stomach."
Claudio said they have have conducted water sampling on the area and there has been no indication so far of fish kills and oil spillage.
She said the substance is "toxic but not persistent" and would dissolve or evaporate when exposed. But she said fish could get sick when exposed and the substance would also pose danger to humans especially if ingested. They have advised residents not to open the container vans and drums if they are recovered.
Coast Guard divers are trying to locate the van containing drums loaded with TDI.
But Melad said they suspect that the vans with TDI fell on deeper waters because divers have failed to locate the container vans inside the vessel.
He said 60 vans out of the total cargo of 160 have been recovered after they were swept ashore. Most of the cargo were food stuff.
Melad said that like the MV Princess of the Stars, the MV Ocean Papa lies overturned with its bow sticking out from the water reaching 10 feet in depth while its stern lies on waters reaching 50 feet.
The owner of the cargo ship, Ocean Container Lines Inc., told the DENR and Coast Guard that it was unaware that one of its container vans carried the TDI. It said that the substance was brought in from Pusan, Korea by the Wallem Philippines Shipping, Inc. and was only marked "Polyther Polyvol GP3001."
Claudio said they only learned of the nature of the cargo when an imported of the substance sought permission from the DENR for another shipment because of the lost cargo of MV Ocean Papa.
Melad said shipment of toxic substances especially ingredients for manufacturing is not illegal. But he said the cargo should have been properly identified and marked for appropriate handling and storage.