The Ondo State Environmental Protection Agency (OSEPA) has advised major distributors and retailers of plastic bottled drinks, water and sachets to desist from displaying their products on the road kerbs and exposing the them to the ray of sun to prevent health hazards to human.
OSEPA’s Administrative Secretary, Princess Korede Giwa gave the advice during an advocacy campaign against exposing plastic drinks, including package sachet water to the ray of sun embarked upon by the Agency along major streets in Akure, the state capital.
The campaign took the Environmental Compliance Monitoring Team to Arakale Road, Ondo Road, part of Odopetu area, St Luke/Idiagba Tutun and as well as Oda Road.
Addressing distributors, retailers and attendants of plastic bottled drinks and water, and plastic water sachet at their points of sale, Giwa underscored the need for sellers of consumables to adhere strictly to the best practices in the storage and selling their wares as stipulated by the product manufacturers.
Giwa stressed the adverse health effects inherent in consumption of plastic bottled drinks, water and sachets already exposed to the inappropriate weather conditions especially sun ray, and enjoined sellers of the products to store their products in cool and dry places and also provide or construct shelter to shed the displayed products from direct sun light.
In addition, the Director of Pollution Control, Pastor Oladipo Obanoye said that exposing packaged bottled water, drinks and sachets to the elements, especially sun light is an invitation to a serious health challenge.
According to the environmental health expert, any plastic bottled drinks or water exposed to sun ray naturally undergo chemical processes and reactions over a period of time due to the effects of heat on the plastic and the products which are injurious to human consumption
The high point of the advocacy campaign was the issuance of abatement notice to one of the major distributors of plastic bottled drinks and water along Oda Road to construct shed for the protection of his products being exposed to direct ray of sun light within 15 days.
