http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect...+used+motor+oil+poses+hazard+to+public+health
And even the Backwards Paki's are figuring out used motor oil ain't good for your health...and maybe even deadly.
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.”
Meh.
Menards has thier bar oil on sale for 6 bucks a gallon.
It's cheaper than Chemo and dialysis twice a week.
Stay safe!
Dingeryote
