Careless disposal of oil a health threat

Nnasaretha Kgamanyane | Wednesday December 3, 2014 11:22

 

Speaking at the Tsholetrust Tshomarelo Ole/ Waste Oil Management dinner at Cresta Gaborone Lodge, Mokaila said irresponsible disposal poses an environmental and health threat to both animals and human lives.

He discouraged people from disposing oil and other automotive products through sewerage drains, saying it is dangerous and has irreversible impact.

“Oil can kill our resources more especially when it floats on and pollutes our waterways. It is slow to degrade and evaporate. A small amount seriously contaminates large quantities of drinking water. Imagine what harm it can do to millions of litres of water that we have to drink and use daily,” Mokaila added.

He applauded Tshole Trust for taking a stand by ensuring that they curb careless disposal of used oils and sensitising the public about its effects.

Furthermore, the minister pointed out that some of the natural disasters such as Tsunami, Tornado and others are the results of environment negligence and that nature was revenging for being abused and neglected.

Project Manager and Retail Manager, Dickson Nyepi from Puma Energy said that they exist to coordinate the activities of waste oil management and disseminate public education for a sustainable environment.

“Tshole Trust will be a national leader and a model of excellence in waste oil management. Our main objectives are to educate the public on used oil management, provide used oil management by providing used oil collection tanks for public use and coordination of stakeholders relationships,” he added.

Studies have shown that during use, new oil picks up toxic chemicals, carcinogenic hydrocarbons, and heavy metals, which harm the environment and is dangerous to health when disposed of improperly.