“Jail term awaits those caught using PCBs to fry Akara, chicken and plantain chips at the roadside to sell to the public because the oil is toxic and carcinogenic.

“We found out that it is all over the place in Nigeria, dump sites, and in old National Electric Power Authority compounds,” he said.

Alloy said a survey carried out by the ministry revealed that the oil was currently being used in making food like Akara.

The consultant added that the unsuspecting public were being deceived by the likeness of the oil to the commonly used groundnut oil.

“Some food vendors now mix PCBs with groundnut oil to fry Akara and sell to the general public.

“Of course, they may not know how hazardous what they are doing is. This exercise is to sensitise policymakers and everyone about this malaise.

“It is important to note that spillage of PCBs is always a danger when equipment is to be transported; it should, therefore, be transported only in sealed containers,” he said.

The workshop was organised for state councils, regulatory bodies, power operators and customs officers on the application of PCB regulations and guidelines for Environmentally Sound Management (ESM) of PCBs.

Source: healthwise