Evidence Based Community crisis by Waste Diesel oil spill in Chunnakam Urban Area

Dr.C.S.Jamunanantha MBBS. DTCD.

Evidence Based Community crisis by Waste Diesel oil spill in Chunnakam Urban Area Waste Diesel oil spill occurred in Chunnakam urban area and its surrounding agricultural areas from the power plant station.

Chunnakam aquifer is the high capacity and acceptable quality water for drinking and farming.

The contamination has effect the normal hydro dynamics of fresh water because of Chunnakam power station dumped the waste oil directly into the ground in 50m depth. It is a careless, reckless and irresponsible human behaviour. People have noticed the impact by the odour of the water.

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A preliminary study survey to find the contamination was done by National Water Supply and Drainage Board, Jaffna. This analysis was done in 150 wells. 70% are in domestic used and 30% are agricultural used. 81% of wells within 200m have oil and grease contamination of more than 1mg/l and 74% of well in the distance of 200-500m have oil and grease concentration more than 1mg/l. 50% of wells more than 500m have oil and grease concentration more than 1mg/l.

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The pattern of oil spread is more towards North. But the area affected is around 2km diameter in distance. When the water pumped out more, the oil concentration observed is also more.

The analysis of heavy metal yield that 10% of the wells have contamination of Pb above normal limit and 12% of wells have chromium above normal limit.

The pattern of oil spread is more towards North. But the area affected is around 2km diameter in distance.

When the water pumped out more, the oil concentration observed is also more.

The analysis of heavy metal yield that 10% of the wells have contamination of Pb above normal limit and 12% of wells have chromium above normal limit.

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Health Impact It is obvious that heavy metal poisoning including Pb, Cr and Arsenic can lead the organism cytotoxic, effect Renal failure, Liver cell failure, Diabetic mellitus can happen.

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Hydrocarbons of BTEX are toxic to Nucleic acid. Hence these are Genotoxic and mutagenic. The time taken for the concentration of Toluene to become 10% is 20 years and the time taken to the concentration of Xylene to become 40% is 20 years. Chronic exposure will lead to leukaemia in 20 years time.

Utilizing the contaminated water for drinking, bathing, cooking, washing and cleaning is not advisable. We need to sample ground water from transects of multi level samples to monitor BTEX and heavy metals.

The morbidity due to chronic exposure of Diesel waste oil can be categorized into five clusters according to pathogenesis.

Clinical Presentation varies with exposure and time

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 Cluster I – Morbidity Skin irritation, Respiratory irritation, Bronchitis, Bronchial Asthma, Headache, Chronic Fatigue, Syndrome, Depressive illness.  Cluster II - Morbidity Liver cell failure, Renal failure, Diabetes mellitus, Blood dyscrasis, immuno suppressive Dementia  Cluster III Melanoma, Carcinoma of Larynx, Carcinoma of Oropharynx, Carcinoma of Stomach, Carcinoma of Kidney, Carcinoma of Cervix.  Cluster IV Congential malformation, Birth defects, still birth, Cluster V  Psychological problems,Psycho social problems,Mass Hysterical Reaction

It is a long term consequence. But we need environmental sensitive Index. Mapping and Clinical observation documentation at Primary health care level.

WHO standard safe drinking water for all is essential. Pumping water from near places at contaminated area will alter the ground water fluid dynamics and it should not be the alternative.

 Agricultural Impact

Soil is one of the most valuable resources that humanity has due to the variety of services offered and which depend for food.

Waste diesel spill in Chunnakam Urabn area made the quality and safety of the soil as a question. And the microbial properly of the soil is vital for production and proper plant development. The following effect happen after oil spill in ecosystem.  increase salinity  delay in germination  lower the biomass in leaves and stems.  lower the flowering  toxicity in dry weight in seeds and grain like rise and beans.  reduced oxygen content in soil affect the root.  affect the absorption of phosphorous and magnesium by the plants.  reduce the micro organism in soil.

Ecological Assessment ď‚– We need a frame work for Assessing ecological risks of waste diesel weathering in soil.

Ecological risk assessment estimates the nature and likelihood effect of human actions on non human organism, population and ecosystem.

We have to determine : Whether there is a potential route of exposure for potentiality significant ecological receptors; A screening assessment to determine whether exposures could potentially reach toxic levels; Definitive assessment to estimate the nature, magnitude and extent of risks;

The following should be analysed.  Soil ecosystem properties  Plant properties  Properties of soil fauna  Properties of vertebrates

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 The questions which we should answer How can chemical mixtures be analysed so as to generate useful fate and exposure properties?

How can soils be analysed to provide useful estimates of exposure?

Analysis of biota is used to estimate food web exposure or internal exposure.

Bioassays substitute for chemical analyses Exposure and uptake be modelled from current concentration.

Future exposure modelled.

We need ecological risk assessment which include following steps.  Whole material – at Chunnakam Power Station dumping ground should be analysed.  Chemical class of the pollution should be analysing individually.  Individual Chemical analysis  Bioassay should be taken.  Biomarker assays shall be done.  Risk assessment shall be done by species sensitivity distributions Regression models and mathematical models University of Jaffna and other scientific social bodies shall help in the environmental disaster in technological ways.  There is a space for litigation and compensation in legal aspect.

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