Toxic gas tragedy: 'Overexposure to soybean dust' may have caused casualties: ICCBS

Panic continues to haunt the surrounding areas of the port as mystery over toxic gas spread stays unresolved. The incident has so far claimed 10 lives and suspended all customs operations. Findings of International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences suggested 'over exposure to soybean dust' (aeroallergens) may be the possible cause.

Customs operations were immediately suspended after a brief resumption Tuesday morning when another official fell unconscious at Customs House. Four officials were affected Monday by the lethal gas leakage.

The findings of International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences suggest "the symptoms due to exposure to soybean dust (aeroallergens) may be considered as the possible cause. It advised that people admitted in hospitals may be given bronchodilators and anti-histamines. Extreme care should be taken in unloading of soybean containers from now on," it added.

The report available with Business Recorder further said that soybean dust exposure related epidemics have been reported earlier from other parts of the world with associated morbidity and mortality.

"The samples of blood and urine of people exposed to toxic aerosols were sent to us. We have also collected some samples of soybean dust from the port areas. Currently, we are extensively engaged in deciphering the cause of this toxic exposure. We are working on this complex bio analytical problem. We think this may be due to over exposure to soybean dust," said the report which has already been sent to Commission Iftekhar Ali Shalwani.

The Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) officials suspected 'hydrogen sulfide' as cause of deaths. However, they said that samples collected from various points of the metropolis have been sent to the 'Global Environmental Laboratory' for analysis.

The sample report will determine the correct direction of the investigation. While within its purview, the SEPA is committed to ascertaining the cause and source of the accident in accordance with the provincial government's instructions.

A number of patients with eye burns and respiratory problems continue to visit hospitals for the treatment while the fear and panic gripped the residents of the port town. Besides 10 deaths, over 150 people [mostly residents of Keamari's Docks Colony, Kachhi Para, Jackson Market, and Railway Colony] have been affected. Some were discharged after medical aid, while others were still under treatment in different health facilities including Dr Ziauddin University Hospital and Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC).

Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah said the gas leak in still a mystery; however he said teams of Pakistan Navy and Suparco are conducting lab tests of the wind and samples of different oils and goods cargos being downloaded at KPT.

"The lab results would definitely resolve the issue," he said. All relevant agencies including the Sindh Police, district administration and health department are working together to ascertain the causes of the gas leakage.

Preliminary report

Recent incident of leakage of mysterious gas in the vicinity of Kemari-Karachi on February 17, 2020 claimed the lives of 11 people and affected hundreds of peoples as per media reports. The source of this gas is yet to be confirmed.

Global Environmental Lab Pvt. Ltd. being socially responsible entity voluntarily monitored the air quality on number of locations on the request of Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA). The objective was to assess the presence of toxic gases and their levels in the area. Levels of CO, NO, H2S, SO2, VOCs, O3, PM10 and PM2.5 were assessed. Following results were recorded during the monitoring:

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                                           Concentration of Pollutants
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Location                            CO       NO      H2S      SO2    VOCs     O3      PM10      PM2.5
                                   (ppm)    (ppb)   (ppb)    (ppb)   (ppb)   (ppb)   (ug/m3)  (ug/m3)
=====================================================================================================
SEQS Limits                          10       40       -      120      -      130      150         75
Near Railway Gate                   1.3      191     145      123     < 1       7      147        103
(7:15 p.m. on 17-Feb-2020)
Clifton Sea View Area              4.02      203     116      169     73        1      341        229
(9:45 p.m. on 17-Feb-2020)
Near Ziauddin Kemari               8.24      784     661     1420     886       2     1155        533
(12:30 a.m. on 18-Feb-2020)
=====================================================================================================

• SEQS Limit for CO and O3 are based on 1 hour average

• SEQS Limit for NO, SO2, PM10 and PM2.5 is based on 24 hour average