There are a number of hazards dolomite can pose to handlers, according to a 2012 safety data report by Texas distributor and builder Lehigh Hanson Inc. Dolomite contains varying levels of crystalline silica, which can cause damage to lungs or even cancer when it is breathed in. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources said Wednesday that dolomite in its natural state is not harmful to humans. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is under fire following the dumping of artificial white sand along the Manila Baywalk. Earlier, the Manila mayor said he supports the DENR in the project, saying that the department would know better if the materials that they are using are harmful to people and the environment. The polluted water can also make it "stressful" for the bodies of sardines, mackerel, anchovies, and other fish. Lehigh Hanson is a distributor of various construction materials, concrete products, and other industrial products. "It's very concerning there are these types of activities knowing fully well we have environmental assessment processes," Batungbacal said in a mix of English and Filipino during a phone interview . Manila Bay has already been beset by long-standing environmental problems, such as pollution and resource exploitation. However, environmental group Oceana Philippines warned that since the sand does not naturally occur at the bay, the government could be destroying both the natural ecosystem of Manila Bay as well as the source of the synthetic sand. P.O. The government defends its decision, saying the beautification of the bay will “signify cleanliness.”. Sediments in the water could make it turbid, or opaque. Meanwhile, the Lehigh Hanson Inc. released a safety data sheet for dolomite, classifying the material used for manufacture of brick, cement, and other construction materials, to Category 1A in terms of carcinogenicity. Dolomite, also known as calcium magnesium carbonate, is a non-metallic material used in manufacturing bricks, mortar, cement, concrete, plastics, paving materials, and other construction materials. © 2020 Manila Bulletin - Philippine News. Why is dolomite harmful? Oceans researcher and Greenpeace campaigner Sonny Batungbacal highlighted the importance of conducting and disclosing to the public the environmental impact assessment of the project, which is required under environmental laws. Hazards to people Dolomite contains varying levels of crystalline silica, which can cause damage to lungs or even cancer when it is breathed in. “They have to show us proof not just claims that remain unsupported by scientific or medical studies. Side Effects & Safety Dolomite is POSSIBLY UNSAFE for most adults when taken by mouth.Some dolomite products might be contaminated with heavy metals … De Jesus said if the dolomite polluted these – where shellfish, crabs, and fish nurseries thrive – they would become less habitable. Groups have slammed the DENR project, saying it focused on aesthetic improvement over existing environmental concerns that Manila Bay already faces. The rock originates in warm, shallow, marine environments and is believed to form when limestone is modified by magnesium-rich groundwater, according to geologist Hobart King. Dolomite is a naturally occuring mineral complex that contains varying quantities of quartz (crystalline silica),” the firm added. Public policy think tank Infrawatch PH said the situation presents a writ of kalikasan case in the Supreme Court – a legal remedy protecting the constitutional right to a healthful ecology. The sand from the baywalk area could also transfer to other areas of the bay where there are mangrove trees, beaches, and mudflats. The agency is pulverizing the sedimentary rock to fill a portion of Manila Bay with "white sand" for quarantine-weary residents of Metro Manila. Lehigh Hanson had the same finding – allowing the sand into water can increase total suspended particulate (TSP) levels, which can be harmful to aquatic life. Dolomite material will take the role of white sand which will be used to top coat the beach surface to complement Manila Bay’s picturesque sunset. So it will not disrupt the coastal ecosystem.”, (We at the DENR studied that. Gardeners also use dolomite dust or sand to help reduce the pH level of soil. Marine scientist Diovanie de Jesus said the dolomite could cause hazards to creatures in and around the water. Instead of fresh sea air, promenaders will get a whiff of toxic dust from dolomite sand when the P389-million Manila Bay rehabilitation project is completed, environmentalists claimed. The National Center for Biotechnology Information which is a division of the US National Institute of Health said there is “little information” of dolomite’s potential to trigger respiratory disorders through occupational exposure. In the first place, the sand we used, the dolomite boulders contain calcium carbonate and if you will look at the corals, they’re calcium carbonate as well. Intramuros, Manila 1002 Later reports revealed that Cebu province did not greenlight the extraction, but it was the DENR’s Mines and Geosciences Bureau that did. But is crushed dolomite substance really dangerous to human health? But what exactly is dolomite, the material at the center of the controversy? It has low solubility, which makes it resistant to acid content of rain and soil. The sand from the baywalk area could also transfer to other areas of the bay where there are mangrove trees, beaches, and mudflats. However, Undersecretary Benny Antiporda of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources decried the claim as “rubbish.”. Others raised concerns over the government’s priority projects amid the coronavirus pandemic. This way we can have science-based decision making," he added. While the water is strained from top to bottom in the filter, dolomite mineral dissolves and provides natural minerals to water such as calcium, magnesium and carbonate. “Respirable crystalline silica (RCS) may cause cancer. We know it's the material from which the sand is made, but other questions about its possible adverse effects on Manila Bay persist. Another use of dolomite is for livestock feed. The DENR claimed that the crushed dolomite will not disrupt the bay’s ecosystem. So it will not disrupt the coastal ecosystem.). Dolomite is also widely used in metal processing, production of glass, bricks, as well as ceramics. It can also be added to aquariums to adjust the pH level of the water. This new argument against the proposed sand treatment of a 500-meter stretch of the bay was raised by environmental advocates opposed to the project. Dolomite and coral reefs are made of the same material which is calcium carbonate – which is not foreign to our coastal system,” he explained. In the first place 'yung mga ginamit d'yan, especially 'yung sand, 'yung dolomite boulders na 'yan it contains calcium carbonate and if you will look sa corals, calcium carbonate din. “However, this product may contain trace amounts of crystalline silica in the form of quartz or crysbobalite, which has been classified by IARC as a Group I carcinogent to humans when inhaled,” reported the firm, a subsidiary of Belgium-based Lhoist Group the which is the global distributor of lime, dolime, and other minerals. Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that when ingested, dolomite can cause pain in the stomach and result in diarrhea. All rights reserved. Dolomite material will take the role of white sand which will be used to top coat the beach surface to complement Manila Bay’s picturesque sunset.. Former Kabataan party-list Rep. Terry Ridon, convenor of the Infrastructure Watch, claimed there are a number of scientific and medical studies linking dolomite to various respiratory diseases, including cancer. The Department of Health also attested to dolomite’s health risks, especially the adverse reactions in humans when inhaled. Here's basic information you should know. Michelle Abad is a researcher-writer at Rappler. DENR Undersecretary Benny Antiporda said in a PhilStar.com report, “Kami sa DENR pinag-aralan natin 'yan. He dared critics to cite specific cases of people getting sick as a result of ingestion or prolong exposure to dolomite material. However, in its study of the substance, the NCBI concluded that while its data “cast doubt on the notion that dolomite is a harmless chemical, they provide evidence in favor of the proposition that exposure to high atmospheric concentrations of these compound is likely to be associated with respiratory symptoms.”, In its website, Lhoist North America disclosed that dolomite contact “can cause irritation to eyes, skin, respiratory system, and gastrointentestinal tract,”adding that “long-term exposure may cause permanent damage.”. BOX769. – Rappler.com. The white sand is made from dolomite rock mined and exported from Cebu. Former Kabataan party-list Rep. Terry Ridon, convenor of the Infrastructure Watch, claimed there are a number of scientific and medical studies linking dolomite to various respiratory diseases, including cancer. 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