|
|
HEALTH ADVISORY ON THE REPORTED OIL SPILL ALONG MARIKINA RIVER 30 January 2001 Based on the report that an oil spill incident which occurred in a bottling plant that eventually drained in Marikina River, the Department of Health is issuing an initial health advisory pending a report on investigation/assessment and management/mitigation measures to ensure the health and well-being of the people, as follows; 1. Inform the community that bathing, swimming, laundering and wading into the water bodies (e.g. river systems) and river banks should be restricted along the Marikina River. Warning signs should be posted in the immediate areas informing the general public of the oil spill incident. 2. Getting water for drinking/cooking and other household purposes, including irrigation from these affected water bodies should also be banned. 3. Restrict farm animals from bathing and drinking from these water bodies. 4. For the meantime, the Department advises that fish and shell fish caught/harvested within the water body and other nearby tributaries affected by the oil spill should not be sold nor consumed for safety and health reasons. The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources can identify alternative point sources where fish and shellfish products are considered safe for public consumption. 5. Health effects that may occur due to repeated exposure to the river waters contaminated with oil may result in dermatitis, irritation/corrosion to the eyes, gingiva and mucous membranes. In extreme cases, skin exposure can result in severe blisters, inflammation of the upper respiratory tract and chemical pneumonitis. 6. The oil in the river system may still be flammable, thus, extreme caution should be observed to ensure that other oxidizing and reducing materials are not mixed into the water bodies since it may ignite and emit highly toxic fumes and heat. 7. In cases of adverse health effects, patients may be referred to the PGH-National Poison Control and Information Service at Tel No.5241078 for immediate management. |
