Human life at stake in kaylite use

EDITOR — I was thrilled to read in The Chronicle (July 13, 2017) that Government through Environmental Management Agency (Ema) has with immediate effect banned the use of polystyrene (kaylite) to package food as this material besides being environmentally unfriendly also causes cancer in human beings.

Kaylite ban was effected in 2002 through Statutory Instrument 84 which Ema is only evoking now after realising I think, how this medium of food packaging has become a nuisance to the environment rather than to human life.

If they were concerned about the damage the kaylite causes to human beings’ health they should have banned it in 2002 when the SI.84 was enacted. It boggles the mind why no action was taken to have this kaylite banned to this day.

Even in the interview with Chronicle the Ema’s spokesperson Mr Steady Kangata said banning of kaylite was meant to protect the public’s health. “Besides the environmental impact, kaylite also puts the lives of people at risk. The kaylite gets heated during food packaging. If it is heated there is the migration of some gas from the container to the food and this gas causes cancer.”

Now Ema comes up with a shocker that the use has been given a three-month lifeline. Businesses have been given this grace period to wind up kaylite usage. Why put business first ahead of human life.

Why give companies the reprieve when this ban was announced in 2002. All along people knew about this ban but because it was not enforced by authorities, concerned companies pretended not to know. Some businesses stopped using this packaging long back. Why get soft on companies that are stubborn.

According to the Ema column yesterday in The Chronicle, polystyrene use has been left to the discretion of individuals. Why individuals when this product is a health hazard.

The article dwells mostly on negative environmental impacts.

So for the next three months people or rather consumers of takeaway foods can be exposed further to cancer while businesses are finding alternatives for food packaging. Is this not rather ridiculous?

Why is the Ministry of Health quiet on this issue since it involves the health of the people.We want also to hear their opinion not only from Ema who are more concerned about the environment.

We want to see those found on the wrong side after the ban extension has elapsed prosecuted. No one should be spared, it’s human life which is at stake here.

Businesses found using the banned material risk a fine of up to $5 000 or one year imprisonment as stated in the SI.84 2002.

We want seriousness on this kaylite ban. Matshanda Matshand, Gwabalanda, Bulawayo.