BY ELLALYN DE VERA-RUIZ
Local and foreign tourists are safe to enjoy watching the beautiful sunset at the Manila Bay.
This is because the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has found no toxic chemicals on the dolomite sand used in the Manila Bay beach nourishment project.
Based on the test results released by its Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) and Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), the dolomite sand samples taken from the beach nourishment project do not contain heavy metals that are harmful to health and marine life.
Both bureaus conducted testing on the presence of iron, nickel, lead, and mercury; grain size analysis; acidity/alkalinity (pH) and specific metals using the Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP); and x-ray diffraction analysis.
The metals analyzed also include arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury and selenium.
According to EMB OIC Director William P. Cuñado, the results of the analysis were compared to the limits set in DENR Administrative Order No. 2013-22, or the Revised Procedures and Standards for the Management of Hazardous Wastes (Revising DAO 2004-36).
Basing from the results of the TCLP, the EMB and MGB cited that none of the values obtained from the sample leachate exceeded the limits stated in the DENR AO 2013-22, “hence the sample is not classified as hazardous.”
