Toxicologist insists crushed dolomite bad for health

A toxicologist on Thursday contradicted the statements of the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) that crushed dolomite, like the one used in the Manila Bay beautification project, poses no health risks.

In a virtual forum by Oceana Philippines, Dr. Rommy Quijano said in justifying its controversial Manila Bay project, the DENR ignored scientific findings showing the potential health hazards of crushed dolomite.

“Yung sinasabi nila na walang potential health defects ‘yan ay hindi totoo ‘yun. Tingin ko, dahil nga ginawa nila yan (Manila Bay project) na wala man lang consultation, dyina-justify na lang nila ang kanilang action,” he said.

“Hindi ko maintindihan  bakit pati ang DOH  ay nagsabi na  ligtas naman daw  ‘yan. Samantalang noong una, nagsabi ang DOH na, ‘yun nga, dahil sa respirable dust ay maaaring magkaroon ng respiratory disease,” he added.

The DENR and the DOH claimed that crushed dolomite is safe, citing its  size of 2 to 5 millimeters or equivalent to 2,000 to 5,000 microns or 100 times, which is bigger than dust.

It means, according to the DENR, that the crushed dolomite cannot be suspended in air and thus be inhaled by a person.

“Huwag nilang sabihin na walang  dust ‘yan dahil maski naman  ang mga malalaking  bato kung  kunin mo yan sa lupa tiyak na meron maliliit na dust din na mabubuo diyan,” Quijano said.

“Maaaring malanghap ng mga tao hindi lamang ng manggagawa kundi pati ‘yung mga tao na maaaring lalapit diyan lalo na kung malakas ang hangin,” he said.

Sought for reaction, DENR Environment Management Bureau (EMB) Director Willian Cuñado told GMA News Online that dolomite rocks only pose health hazards during quarrying and processing.

“The health issue with the dolomite is not in the product anymore. It's already in the process during quarrying and processing. For the product itself, there will be no more health issue,” Cuñado said.

“The dolomites that we are bringing in Manila Bay that is already the product with very very minimal…all the dust and particulates are already removed in the processing,” he added.

Meanwhile, Quijano said dolomite rocks may release heavy metals such as mercury, arsenic, zinc, and cadmium, which can lead to diseases affecting the nervous and immune system like lupus.

Cuñado was quick to deny this: “The dolomite composition is calcium and magnesium...So if you look at heavy metal compositions, there is no heavy metal present  on the dolomite. We have already checked that,” he told GMA News Online.

According to Cuñado, a third party company already conducted an analysis on the composition of the dolomite that will be used on Manila Bay to make it appear that its shoreline is covered with white sand.

Environmentalists and fisherfolk groups earlier criticized the DENR’s project, calling it artificial rehabilitation and a waste of money. --KBK, GMA News