Africa-Press – Lesotho. In a bid to disseminate information on Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB) oil, the Ministry of Energy and Meteorology through Lesotho Electricity Company (LEC) together with the Ministry of Tourism, Environment and Culture and the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) launched the PCB oil student competition last week.
LEC has been part of the world campaign from November 2018 whereby it joined in efforts for prevention and stopping usage of used transformer oil that contains dangerous chemical to both animals and people.
Last year, the company tested transformers that were suspected to contain PCB and had pledged to destroy all these transformers by 2025, for protection of people, animals and the environment.
Speaking at the competition launch on behalf of LEC Managing Director, the Risk Manager Matšeliso Moremoholo said the Ultimate Radio has joined to facilitate the competition as it is identified as the nation-wide youth radio station.
She said the competition targets youth in schools (from primary to tertiary level) and has started this week. “The main aim is to raise awareness on PCB oil transformers and to educate the nation on its dangers as well as improving youths’ learning capability,” she said.
The Minister of Tourism, Environment and Culture Advocate Lekhetho Rakuoane stated that the winners will be awarded with electronic gadgets which will be useful in their learning.
Rakuoane also said the competition is financially supported by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNDP). For his part, the Minister of Energy and Meteorology Hon.
Mohapi Mohapinyane said his ministry has to be in the fore-front in protecting the environment and the lives of Basotho since they are charged with transmitting electricity in the country. The Minister of Education and Training Hon.
Ntlhoi Motsamai took over to indicate that as a chemistry teacher by qualification and profession, she is aware that the launch focuses on Chemical Pollution by Organic man-made chemistry products by PCBs.
“PCBs are a group of man-made substances, containing carbon, hydrogen, and chlorine atoms.
They have been used in many industries and commercial products because of their high boiling points, non-flammability, chemical stability, and insulating properties.
Because of their chemical stability, they can stay in the environment for a very long time. Consequently, they may not just affect the individual organisms such as animals and plants, but ultimately the entire ecosystems or communities,” Motsamai noted. Motsamai extended that these chemicals are highly toxic to the environment and were banned from use in 1979.
She emphasized that their properties pose serious health risks to foetuses, babies and children, who may suffer developmental problems such as low birth-weight and neurological problems characterized by behavioral disorder due to prolonged or repeated exposures to small amounts found in water, air or soil.
She said these chemicals are harmful to adults as well, “since they are human carcinogens, that is, cancer-causing agents”. “They cause cancer of the brain, breasts, gall bladder, liver, skin, and others.
It is very important to avoid contamination with PBCs. They damage the immune system in humans, decrease pulmonary function, cause bronchitis and interference with hormones”.
She further informed that the launch sets awareness about the dangers of these products to human life especially the youth and the environment. She urged Basotho to avoid PCBs contamination by adhering to the proper disposal of such oils and solids.
“Use gloves and protective clothing when tilling such soils if you suspect the soil is contaminated, wash hands and tools thoroughly after handling such soils, fence off contaminated areas to ensure they are not accessible to children, reduce intake of PCBs by removing the skin and fatty areas from fish fillets and meat.
PCBs accumulate in fish fat or animal fat,” Motsamai implored all Basotho to protect their environment and report to LEC if oil leaks from transformers.
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