THE effects from exposure to some of the chemicals found in the Sg Kim Kim toxic waste in Pasir Gudang, Johor, might not be felt instantly, said experts.

The exposure to the toxic waste might have latent health effects as physical symptoms may only start to manifest after a certain period of time, they said.

Dr T. Jayabalan from the National Poison Centre told The Malaysian Insight there are short-term impacts which can be detected swiftly and long-term ones which show up later.

“The problem is that in the short term, you can immediately know when people fall ill. You can rush them to hospital and they can be treated, but in the long term, some of the classes (chemical classes) which have been put into certain schedule tend to cause harm,” he said.

Some of the particles could be embedded in a person’s body and could even be hereditary in nature as it could be passed over to the next generation, he said.

Certain chemicals take up to 30 years to show their side-effects after exposure, said Jayabalan. This does not mean that it is not harmful.

The impact of exposure to these chemicals is not limited to humans but also to aquatic beings, which are eventually consumed by people.

Jayabalan said chemicals classified under Schedule II(2) of the Occupational Safety and Health’s Use and Standards of Exposure of Chemicals Hazardous to Health Regulations 2000, in which benzene is included, could have serious implications.

“Those which are in Schedule 2 are substances which have the potential to cause cancer, infertility problems and even deformity. Some of them, they say, are very safe but in the end of the day, how safe it is?”

Benzene was among the chemical compounds identified in the toxic waste found in Sg Kim Kim, along with methane, hydrogen chloride, acrylonitrile, acrolein, toluene, xylene and limonene.

“Benzene is a deadly chemical. It is a carcinogen. It causes leukaemia and in some cases it doesn’t cause immediately, it takes some time to manifest itself,” he said.

Jayabalan is also known for investigating the health impact of the radiation from the Mitsubishi Asian Rare Earth plant in Bukit Merah in the 1980s, which allegedly led to leukaemia and birth defects.

Meanwhile, Dr Ahmad Shukri Ismail, president of the Malaysian Islamic Doctors Association (Perdim), said exposure to benzene and toluene for an extended period could result in fatality.

Shukri said most of the chemical compounds identified can be potentially damaging to the health.

However, whether the impact is chronic or acute depends on the time period and dose individuals have been exposed to.

Panic attacks

He said many of the victims at Sg Kim Kim could have had panic attacks.

“It was reported that there was also hydrogen cyanide gas detected. This is very toxic,” said Shukri.

Following the discovery of the pollution site in Pasir Gudang, Johor Fire and Rescue Department director Yahaya Madi was quoted as saying hydrogen cyanide gas was detected at the site.

However, Yahaya said the compound was a result of the chemical reaction of the components of the waste and not as harmful as pure cyanide. The reading also indicated that its presence was not at harmful levels.

Echoing Shukri, Jayabalan said cyanide even in a gaseous form can be fatal.

“Cyanide is a disaster, you know people get killed by cyanide even in its gaseous form.”

A professor specialising in chemical engineering earlier told The Malaysian Insight that except for methane, the other compounds are toxic.

“Except for methane, which can cause narcotic effects when inhaled, the rest are toxic. Hydrogen chloride and acrolein, especially, are corrosive to the respiratory tract and can cause organ damage,” the professor told The Malaysian Insight on condition of anonymity.

“Toluene, benzene and acrylonitrile are carcinogenic and can damage organs with prolonged exposure. It should be noted that acrolein is a compound that can cause fatality from exposure to levels as low as 10ppm (parts per million), while the lethal concentration of acrylonitrile via inhalation is 2.09ppm per four hours.”

Prevention better than cure

Jayabalan said it is now too late for the authorities to act. Such incidents, he said, should have been prevented.

Regulatory frameworks, such as the Industry Code of Practice on Chemicals Classification and Hazard Communication, are in place to ensure that hazardous chemicals are prudently managed and are stored, labelled, handled and disposed of correctly.

Chemical companies should be monitoring the air quality within and around their premises to check if such hazardous compounds have seeped into the air, he said.

“I think the best practice is to prevent rather than waiting for it and trying to mitigate. They should have never have allowed it.”

The authorities should be constantly monitoring the operations of chemical companies and other factories as there have been many cases of chemical waste dumping, some which may have gone undetected for long period of times.

Shukri said the mitigation process should have taken place a lot quicker.

So far, nine people have been arrested in connection with the case. All 111 schools in the area will remain closed until the after the end of the school holidays early next month.

As at yesterday, 29 patients remained warded. At the height of the incident, which first broke out March 7, and then a second wave on March 11, almost 1,000 people, including schoolchildren were affected and hospitalised. About 12 people were warded in the intensive care unit.

The government had to allocate RM6.4 million to clean up a 1.5km stretch of Sg Kim Kim.

Health Minister Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the victims have suffered a one-off acute exposure and are not expected to have long-term effects. – March 19, 2019.