India Bans Neurotoxic petrol additive MMT

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Neurotoxic petrol additive MMT: Finally banished

http://www.cseindia.org/aboutus/press_releases/press-index.htm

The proactive move by the Union Petroleum Minister, Mani Shankar

Aiyar, to ascertain the status of the use of the MMT, a manganese-

based deadly octane enhancer in petrol, has elicited voluntary

admission from the national oil companies that they have stopped

blending MMT in petrol. The minister stepped in after the Centre for

Science and Environment drew attention to the insidious entry of the

deadly poison. This is the first instance ever of Indian oil

companies volunteering to stop the use of a harmful substance in the

face of strong public concern.

 

New Delhi, June 23, 2005: The Centre for Science and Environment

welcomes the swift intervention of the Union Petroleum Minister, Mani

Shankar Aiyar, to ascertain the status of the use of the MMT

(methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl), a manganese-based

octane enhancer in petrol. This has elicited voluntary admission from

the national oil companies that they have stopped blending MMT in

petrol. For the first time Indian oil companies have volunteered to

discontinue the use of a harmful substance in the face of strong

public concern. Following a similar voluntary decision by the oil

majors in the US and Canada, MMT business had just about begun to

shift its base to Asia and Africa. This proactive move by the

government stalls its insidious entry into India.

 

In a written communiqué to CSE, the Union Petroleum Minister has

affirmed:

 

"I have got the reports from our oil PSUs. I have been informed that

except for Numaligarh Refinery Ltd (NRL), which uses marginal

quantities of MMT as a trimming agent for a marginal increase in the

octane number of motor spirit, other public sector oil refineries are

not using MMT any more. You will be glad to learn that NRL too will

discontinue the use of MMT by March 2006 by when the new facilities

being set up by them for producing motor spirit are expected to be

completed."

 

http://www.cseindia.org/campaign/apc/mmt/aiyar_june05.PDF

 

This affirmation comes soon after Mr Aiyar's assurance made to CSE in

the first week of May, when he stated, "I am having the matter looked

into." We are happy to note that the minister has responded to the

public concern after we had drawn attention to the blending of this

deadly poison and sought the minister's immediate intervention to

stop MMT use at the national level.

 

With this proactive support, India has been quick to bring to a halt

the use of MMT before the business could grow. This close encounter

with the toxic trade underscores the importance of constant

regulatory vigil to prevent a splatter of noxious additives in the

fuel stream. After this step forward, the country urgently needs a

comprehensive fuel additive policy to screen additives for hazards

and to prevent any adverse fallout in future. The producers and

sellers of fuel additives must be made liable and made to bear the

burden of proof to provide clear evidence that these do not harm

public health.

 

In March this year, CSE had issued a public alert noting with deep

concern and shock over the use of MMT in petrol by oil companies in

India. We had demanded urgent national action to save the country

from falling prey to the lethal neurotoxin. Manganese particles from

MMT blended petrol damage the brain and also foul up emission control

components in vehicles.

 

MMT: deadly facts

Health risks

 

* Global studies on the health impact of manganese

emissions/particles bring out the acute toxic effects of manganese

emissions. Fine particles laden with manganese oxides melt in the

blood more readily, and travel to the brain more rapidly. They can

enter the brain through the nasal passages without circulating in the

blood first. The clearance rate of manganese from the brain is slower

than the absorption rate! The adverse effects are so subtle and

difficult to detect initially that it could lead to widespread damage

before use is stopped. The symptoms of manganese neurotoxicity are

similar to that of Parkinson's disease.

 

Damages to emission control technologies

 

* Global car makers in the US and Canada, including BMW, Daimler

Chrysler, Toyota, General Motors, Honda, Mitsubishi and Porsche,

among others, state categorically in their respective warranties for

cars, that they do not recommend the use of petrol that contains MMT,

as it adversely affects the spark plug and emissions systems.

 

* Society of Indian automobile manufacturers has also conveyed

its concern over the use of MMT to the Bureau of Indian Standards.

 

* Studies have demonstrated that gaseous emissions can increase

by as much as 118 to 143 per cent due to the damaged emissions

control system caused by manganese deposits. It also lowers fuel

economy. Evidence from China shows red manganese deposits on

catalytic converters after 20,000 miles. Huge investments made on

advanced catalyst technologies to meet tighter emissions norms can go

waste if manganese deposits plug and choke such sensitive equipment

quickly.