| Concern over High Benzene Readings Near Durban’s Engen Petrol Refinery | |
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 Recent readings of the high level of cancer-causing benzene near Durban’s Engen petrol refinery has caused much consternation amongst the local community who fear that they may be exposed to serious health risks.
Depending on benzene levels, and the extent of the exposure, numerous medical studies have confirmed that exposure to benzene causes leukemia. This information came to light when air samples collected by the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance were sent to an independent laboratory in California to be analysed. Desmond D’Sa the Alliance spokesperson reported that the laboratory results of the benzene reading taken in the early morning of 26 January in Badulla Road, Merebank were 600 ug/ m³. This level is certainly higher than health guidelines given by the World Health Organisation as 16 ug/m³ or the European Community as 5ug/m³ or Japan at 3 ug/m³. It is difficult to compare these measurements as the World Health, European Community and Japanese limits are related to average level of measurements recorded over a year, while the Alliance sample was a single reading. When taken into account this does not lessen the potential hazard to health as ideally people should not be exposed to the chemical at all. At the same time the Ethekwini Municipality showed a very different reading from their monitoring equipment taken in Badulla Road on the same day.
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