ANTIQUE – A local farmer initially suspected in the mass chemical exposure incident that hospitalized over 200 students in Barangay Pis-anan, Sibalom town has been cleared as the primary source of contamination, according to initial findings released by Task Force Pis-anan.
The incident occurred around 8 a.m. on July 2, when students from Pis-anan National High School and Pis-anan Central School began experiencing symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, and breathing difficulty after inhaling a foul odor described by witnesses as similar to “overripe guava.”
Rodel Esler, information officer of Task Force Pis-anan, confirmed that a farmer earlier admitted to spraying two types of pesticides near the time of the incident. However, further investigation revealed that the spraying took place approximately eight kilometers away from the schools — too far to have caused the immediate health effects observed.
“The farmer is no longer considered the source of contamination,” Esler said, noting that the distance and wind patterns make it unlikely that the chemicals reached the school premises in harmful concentrations.
To aid in the investigation, chemists from the University of Antique conducted preliminary tests on soil and plant samples to determine the nature and possible spread of the chemicals used in the area. Their initial findings revealed that certain chemicals, when inhaled, can stay in the human body for three to seven days before being naturally released. This means symptoms may recur even after initial treatment or first aid has been administered.
Recovered chemical containers are now under evaluation as authorities continue to trace the true source of the toxic fumes.
As of press time, Task Force Pis-anan was still awaiting further laboratory results and continuing its investigation to identify the exact origin of the exposure that disrupted classes and caused panic in the community./PN
