INDUSTRIAL POLLUTION IN PASIG RIVER

[luistaylormd]

http://archive.greenpeace.org/toxics/toxfreeasia/documents/pasigriver.html

BACKGROUNDER
INDUSTRIAL POLLUTION IN PASIG RIVER


A few years ago, the Government of the Philippines acknowledged that
the Pasig River is "biologically inactive." The first signs of
deterioration of river quality began appearing as early as the 1930s
when fish migration to and from Laguna Lake began to diminish. Through
the years, there was a marked decline in bathing and washing
activities. By the 1980s, the country�s most important waterway was
transformed into a national symbol of pollution.
Assisted by DANIDA (the Danish aid agency), the Philippines government
undertook to clean up the river. The Action Plan on Pasig River
Rehabilitation Program rightly identified the major sources of
pollution as domestic effluents, industrial wastewater and solid waste
(garbage). The contribution to the pollution load by the various
sources was estimated at 45 percent each for domestic effluents and
industrial wastewater.
Unfortunately though, the pollution studies assessed the health of the
river mainly on the basis of one parameter � Biological Oxygen Demand
(BOD). BOD is a measure of the quantity of oxygen depleted by decaying
organic matter in the water. While this is an important indicator of
the health of water systems, it is inadequate as an index to total
pollution in the river. Because BOD only accounts for decaying organic
matter, it tells us little about the presence and effects of
persistent toxins including metals (metals do not degrade in the
environment) and long-lived organic poisons.
This limited assessment led to the development of an action plan that
focused mainly on domestic effluents, particularly those draining from
the houses of the impoverished communities living alongside the River.
The Action Plan drafted by the River Rehabilitation Secretariat
identifies 315 industries located around the River as major water
polluters. The August 1991 feasibility study for river rehabilitation
admits that "electroplating industries and some chemical processing
plants are likely to generate significant amounts of wastes
contaminated with heavy metals and other toxic components."
However, the action plan does precious little to prevent industries
from polluting. Even the few steps that are being taken to address
industrial pollution (such as effluent treatment plants) are ill-
advised and rely on end-of-pipe treatment technologies that will do
little to save the river.
GREENPEACE ANALYSES
In September 1999, Greenpeace collected wastewater and sediment
samples from and around the effluent outlets of two factories �
Chemphil and Republic Asahi. The samples were analyzed at the
Greenpeace Research Laboratories at the University of Exeter, UK. The
findings vindicate Greenpeace�s hypothesis that the Pasig River
environment is being steadily loaded with non-degradable and poorly
degradable toxic substances.
Republic Asahi (Glass Factory)
The sample of treated wastewater collected from Asahi was found to be
severely contaminated with Nickel. This finding is particularly
noteworthy considering that Republic Asahi has long been heralded for
its efficient wastewater treatment plant. It also clearly debunks the
myth that effluent treatment plants are efficient destroyers of
pollution. Indeed, the levels of lead and copper too were higher than
the acceptable levels set in the Australia New Zealand environmental
standards (ANZECC).
The nickel in the sample most likely originates from the nickel alloys
that are used as ingredients in the manufacture of speciality glass
(e.g. nickel-aluminum films, nickel borosilicate glass)
At 1290 micrograms per liter, the levels of Nickel were at least 8
times higher than levels prescribed as tolerable by the ANZECC. The
Philippines does not have any standards for Nickel levels in
wastewater.
Whereas metallic Nickel and its alloys are listed as possible human
carcinogens by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (1998),
certain nickel compounds (e.g. oxides, carbonates, acetates etc) are
listed by the US Department of Health and Human Services as
"Reasonably Anticipated to be Human Carcinogens." (USPHS 1998)
Given the limits recommended by various agencies, it is very likely
that Asahi�s discharge endangers aquatic life in the Pasig River.
Chemphil
Chemphil is listed as a producer of a number of chemicals that may be
used as feedstock in the manufacture of surfactants, soaps and
detergents. This plant discharges its effluent through a dedicated
channel that drains into the river. Sediment samples collected from
the channel contained relatively high levels of copper and manganese,
and to a certain extent lead, nickel and zinc.
Chemphil Effluent Channel Sediment
METAL
Uncontaminated Backgroundmg/kg ANZECC Aquatic ecosystm protection
levels for sediment ISQG Low - ISQG High mg/kg (dry wt) Sediment from
open channelmg/kg (dry wt)

Copper 10-50 65-270 160
Lead 20-30 50 -220 70
Manganese N/A N/A 2450
Zinc <100 200 -410 530

Exposure to high levels of copper or long-term elevated exposure can
be harmful. Oral exposure to high levels can cause vomiting,
diarrhoea, stomach cramps and nausea. In addition to these effects,
developmental and reproductive damage, following exposure to high
levels of copper, has been seen in animals. However, no such effects
have been reported in humans. A considerable number of specie is
sensitive to dissolved concentrations as low as 1-10 microgram per
liter. Another study of species diversity in benthic communities from
Norwegian fjords, led to the conclusion that the most sensitive
animals were missing from sites where sediment copper levels exceeded
200 mg/kg.
CONCLUSIONS AND DEMANDS
The pollution of Pasig River by industrial sources is significant but
neglected. Even though Government documents talk about toxic waste
minimization and prevention, virtually nothing has been done to
prevent the loading of the River waters by metals or persistent
organics.
The Philippines Effluent Regulations do not even have standards for
many important and toxic metals and organic compounds. Wherever
standards do exist, they tend to do more to legalize pollution than to
actually protect the environment and the health of life.
Going by the analyses results of the treated industrial wastewater
being discharged into the Pasig River, it is clear that end-of-pipe
effluent treatment plants don�t work. It is an established fact that
effluent treatment plants of the kind that are installed at Republic
Asahi are incapable of neutralizing all toxics. Metals and persistent
organics in particular are at best relocated from the liquid medium to
the bottom sludge of the effluent treatment plants. At worst, they
escape the treatment and end up polluting the river as is demonstrated
by the presence of high levels of nickel in the wastewater from Asahi.
Government plans to clean up the Pasig River underemphasize the role
of industries as a source of pollution in the river. Also, because the
action plans rely primarily on Biological Oxygen Demand as an index of
pollution, this .
does not solve the potential and long-term problem of toxic chemical
build-up in the river.
Communities and citizens are totally unaware about the kinds of
pollutants discharged by industries. This ignorance prevents them from
playing an active role in assisting regulatory authorities to ensure
that industrial operations do not endanger the environment.
Internationally, community right-to-know legislation has been crucial
to the functioning of communities in an effective watchdog role.
It is in this context that Greenpeace places the following demands in
front of the Government:
1. Conduct a comprehensive study into the pollution of the Pasig River
by metals and organic pollutants (including persistent organic
pollutants) as a result of polluting industrial practices.
2. End-of-pipe pollution control methods should be replaced by
pollution elimination at source. The pending Clean Water Act must be
quickly enacted with strong language mandating zero toxic discharge
into waterways, guaranteeing communities right-to-know and emphasizing
Clean Production and Pollution Prevention.
3. All potentially polluting industries should be inspected to ensure
that they do not discharge polluted waters into the Pasig River.



http://archive.greenpeace.org/toxics/toxfreeasia/documents/pasigriver.html