High Benzene Levels in Ho Chi Minh City Exceed WHO Standards by 6.72 Times: Is it Linked to Fuel Quality?
On January 17, the Ho Chi Minh City Science and Culture Center, in collaboration with the Ho Chi Minh City Chemistry Association, held a seminar addressing fuel quality and environmental pollution.
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Fuel Station (Photo: VietNamNet) |
Since July 1, 2001, Vietnam has ceased the use of leaded gasoline. The pressing question is: what additives are used in imported fuels that the public consumes daily as a substitute for lead? And are these additives safe for humans and the atmosphere?
According to Professor Ho Si Thoang, in developed countries, lead has not been used as a gasoline additive since the 1970s – 1980s. Oxygen-containing compounds have gradually replaced lead…
Toxic Lead… Replacing Lead with Other Toxins!
Among these, methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) is the most favored because it is produced from by-products of the oil refining process.
However, by the late 1990s, MTBE was flagged as a potential carcinogen. Although no scientific studies have yet evaluated the impact of MTBE on human health, research on rats indicates that regular inhalation can lead to kidney and testicular cancer, as well as leukemia.
In addition to its environmental persistence, MTBE can seep into the soil and contaminate groundwater… Moreover, MTBE is a non-biodegradable substance that can accumulate. Consequently, several states in the U.S. have banned its use as a gasoline additive, and this trend is gaining momentum.
What Additives Are Used in Imported Fuels?
The question arises: do the fuels used in Vietnam, particularly in Ho Chi Minh City, contain MTBE as an additive?
According to Associate Professor Nguyen Le Ninh, Permanent Vice President of the Vietnam Automobile and Motor Equipment Association, the type of additives used in gasoline in Vietnam remains a significant unknown. He noted that fuel companies have not disclosed this information.
Associate Professor Nguyen Le Ninh also cited reports indicating that the fuel currently used in Vietnam is inexpensive and contains very high sulfur levels—reportedly the highest in the world, with sulfur content reaching 1,500 ppm, and for oil, up to 5,000 ppm.
In contrast, sulfur levels in Europe are only about 30 ppm. Regarding benzene content in fuels, the Vietnamese standard from 2000 allows for 5%, while in Europe, the permissible benzene level is capped at 1%.
According to scientists, the lack of transparency regarding fuel quality is an unnecessary secrecy, as consumers have the right to know what type of fuel they are using and its potential effects on human health and the environment.
Ho Chi Minh City: Benzene Levels in the Air Are Alarmingly High!
During the seminar on fuel quality and environmental pollution, the Experimental Analysis Service Center presented findings from scientists about benzene, toluene, and xylene pollution levels in the air throughout the city. The study’s results were based on samples collected from several major traffic routes in the city.
The average benzene concentration was found to be 33.6 mcg/m³, exceeding the World Health Organization’s standard by 6.72 times. Based on these results, the risk of developing leukemia due to benzene exposure in the air is 5.4 times higher than the maximum acceptable value (1 mcg/m³).
This indicates a warning sign of benzene pollution along the main traffic routes in Ho Chi Minh City. Additionally, scientists estimate that traffic police officers face a leukemia risk 540 times higher than individuals not exposed to benzene.
