Danger! Poisonous chemical drums turn food, water storage containers

They carried chemicals yesterday; today, they hold drinking water, edibles and drinks for parties. Across the country, discarded industrial drums are being given a second life in homes, despite warnings against domestic reuse. Experts say washing away the dirt may not wash away the danger, as they can still carry the toxic history of what they once contained. CHIJIOKE IREMEKA writes.

In communities where access to reliable water remains a daily challenge, a discarded industrial drum can seem too useful to throw away. For many families, it sits in a corner of the kitchen or veranda, serving as a reservoir for the water they desperately need. It can also provide a convenient place to store household supplies.

Yet, on some of these drums, safety warnings advising against their reuse for food and drinks are already printed or moulded into the plastic. Consumers, however, often overlook them.

Currently, awareness of the warnings on these drums is growing, largely driven by social media users who have brought the safety concerns to public attention and highlighted warning signs that had previously gone unnoticed.

Toxicologists and chemical experts say a drum that has been washed and appears spotless is not automatically suitable for storing drinking water or food, as it may still contain chemical residues.

According to a chemical expert, Samuel Adebowale, the health consequences of reusing an industrial chemical drum can be serious, but they vary from case to case.

He said they depend on what the container previously held, how much residue remains, whether the substance can migrate into food or water, the level and frequency of exposure, and the vulnerability of the person exposed.

“But the potential consequences are serious. Chemical exposure can produce immediate effects such as nausea, vomiting, dizziness, headaches, skin and eye irritation, and breathing problems.

“Also, depending on the substance, exposure can affect organs such as the liver and kidneys or the nervous system. The World Health Organisation states that toxic chemical exposures can produce both local effects at the point of contact and systemic effects affecting organs elsewhere in the body.

“The longer-term concern is even more difficult to detect because a person may not immediately know that exposure is occurring. Hence, avoiding chemical exposure is key to preventing the harmful effects of chemical consumption through the reuse of dangerous drums for food or drinks,” Adebowale said.

The expert revealed that some of the hazardous chemicals imported in the drums are associated with cancer, reproductive toxicity and other chronic health effects.

“Benzene, for instance, is associated with cancer and blood-related effects, and exposure can occur through petroleum products and solvents.

“There is also concern about chemical migration. Food-safety authorities recognise that contaminants can remain in plastic materials and potentially migrate into food under certain conditions.

“Whether that happens, and at what level, depends on the contaminant, the material, temperature, duration of contact and other factors. This means that the danger cannot be judged simply by looking at a drum with the naked eye,” Adebowale noted.

He emphasised that a container may be clean to the eye and still be unsuitable for storing drinking water or food, noting that this is why the history of the container matters as much as its appearance.

“So, it’s important to know what was in the drum before it was washed, as some residues may still be there, especially when it was used to transport dangerous and hazardous industrial chemicals,” the expert added.

Saturday PUNCH reports that, in most cases, bold warnings are engraved on the bodies of the drums. Yet, people often seem disconnected from these warnings, viewing them as mere industrial precautions.

Exposure may cause poisoning, cancer — Food safety expert

Shedding more light on the dangers, a food safety expert and nutritionist, James Oloyede, said the health risks associated with reusing industrial chemical drums for food and water storage could range from acute poisoning to long-term organ damage, cancer and reproductive complications.

Oloyede, the Director of Nutrition Services and Health Education, Osun State Primary Health Care Development Board, said the greatest public health concerns associated with the practice could be divided into two broad areas.

According to him, the first is the possibility of chemical poisoning through the ingestion of residues that may have contaminated food stored in the containers.

“The severity of this is dependent on the nature of the chemical; its effects could be acute or chronic, and if such chemicals are carcinogenic, they could trigger various forms of cancer or tumours in the human body, and we do not know the reason for rising cases of cancer in Nigeria, even among younger people,” he said.

Oloyede also raised concerns about exposure during pregnancy, particularly in the early stages, saying, “If ingested by pregnant women, especially in early pregnancy, it may lead to miscarriage or unintended abortion.”

He stressed that exposure could also result in acute food poisoning or systemic poisoning, depending on the nature and severity of the chemical involved, and warned against using drums marked as dangerous for household purposes.

“This exposure may lead to death or affect certain organs in the body if its severity is high. The best protection is not to attempt to make such containers safe for domestic use.

“To some extent, washing thoroughly under running water may help, but avoidance of its use is the key,” he recommended.

Saturday PUNCH reports that Oloyede’s recommendation is consistent with a broader food-safety principle of preventing chemical contamination at the source, rather than relying on consumers to remove or wash away contaminants after exposure has already occurred.

He described preventing chemical contamination as a key component of food safety, insisting that a drum should not be considered safe for storing food or drinking water merely because it has been thoroughly washed or looks clean.

“Its previous contents, intended use and suitability for food contact are critical factors to be considered,” he added.

A warning hiding in plain sight

Saturday PUNCH observes that the reuse of chemical drums presents a troubling paradox: they are cheap, durable and readily available, making them attractive to households despite the potential risks associated with their previous contents.

Experts who spoke exclusively to our correspondent said such cheap containers, which once held pesticides, solvents, fuels and other hazardous substances, could retain chemical residues or absorb contaminants that ordinary washing might not remove.

A water engineer, Law Mbanusi, told our correspondent that this was why warnings and dangerous pictograms were printed or engraved on the drums, to forewarn intended users against domestic use and prevent harmful outcomes. However, these warnings are largely ignored.

Though he blamed the continued use of the drums on users’ ignorance, he said more education of Nigerians was needed to possibly reduce their use.

“Many Nigerians ignore warning signs or are ignorant of the meaning of the warning signs on chemical plastic drums that shouldn’t be reused for food and drinks. As a result, those drums are almost in every home because we do not have running water in every part of the country,” Mbanusi said.

He added that industrial chemical drums may carry hazard pictograms or signal words such as “DANGER” or “WARNING”, descriptions of their previous contents, and instructions against reuse for food or drink, yet people ignore them out of ignorance.

For a chemical engineer, Gbenga Adesola, the significance of these warnings can be easily missed by household consumers.

He said a person buying a second-hand drum might see only a strong, large container, while the warning that it once carried a hazardous substance could be treated as an industrial detail rather than a health warning.

Adesola noted that the skull-and-crossbones symbol signals acute toxicity, adding, “A corrosion pictogram indicates substances capable of causing severe skin or eye damage or corroding metals. A flame can indicate flammable substances and so on.

“It’s important that people get to know about these signs and know they are not there for fancy but serve as a caution to unsuspecting Nigerians and should not be neglected. The damage they cause to the body may not be seen or known immediately, but its impact is there in the long run. Some of these signs are not even known to the common person.”

He, however, warned that only drums or containers approved for the storage of food and drinks should be used, noting that the “Glass and Fork” symbol indicates that a container is safe for food and drink storage.

The 2025 Food Hygiene Regulations of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control state that equipment, containers and packaging that come into contact with food must be suitable for their intended use, while materials used in food establishments should be non-toxic and inert under normal conditions of use.

The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency also enforces the National Environmental (Chemicals and Pesticides) Regulations 2023, which seek to protect human health and the environment from the harmful effects of hazardous chemicals, pesticides and other agrochemicals.

NESREA’s guidance on handling chemicals states that chemical containers should be segregated and handled by hazardous-waste managers rather than treated as ordinary waste.

The agency strictly prohibits the reuse of industrial and hazardous chemical containers for domestic purposes, warning that toxic residues and chemical leaching pose severe health risks.

In the long run, it noted, exposure could lead to cancer, neurological problems, dementia and reproductive problems such as miscarriages, birth defects and premature birth.

According to NESREA, Nigeria’s environmental rules also prescribe warning information for hazardous-waste containers, including cautionary language and, where applicable, the skull-and-crossbones symbol.

However, Saturday PUNCH learnt that these symbols form part of the Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals, which is designed to communicate chemical hazards through standardised labels.

Demystifying warning signs

One of the markings that can appear on industrial plastic drums is a UN packaging code such as 1H1/Y1.9/200. It may look like a technical health warning, but its meaning is more specific.

According to the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, under the UN dangerous-goods packaging system, “1” identifies a drum, “H” indicates plastic, and the second “1” identifies a closed-head drum. “Y” means the packaging design has been tested for Packing Groups II and III.

The “1.9” refers to the relative density for which the packaging was tested, while “200” relates to the hydraulic test pressure in the applicable marking system. In other words, the marking primarily tells regulators and handlers about the packaging’s performance specifications for transporting dangerous goods.

“It does not mean the drum is safe for drinking water. Official packaging records contain 1H1/Y1.9/200 drums that were tested for particular transport applications, illustrating why the marking cannot be interpreted as a food-grade certification.

“A drum can be extremely durable, chemically resistant and perfectly capable of transporting a hazardous liquid while still being completely inappropriate for domestic food or drinking-water storage,” it stated.

According to the Justrite Safety Group, an industry leader in the safe management of flammable liquids and other hazardous materials, two arrows pointing upwards indicate “This Way Up” in transport and warehousing.

It said that where these arrows appear, the package must be kept in that direction to prevent leaks. Such markings are commonly found on containers carrying chemicals that could be harmful to human health and the environment if they leak.

However, in certain classification systems, multiple or stylised arrows may indicate intense reaction risks, rapid pressure build-up or an elevated danger level compared with a single arrow. Hence, they should not be interpreted as an indication that the container is reusable.

While standard Globally Harmonised System pictograms use a red diamond with a symbol, such as a flame or skull, extra handling symbols or transport marks may use arrows to indicate there is a need for physical orientation or position of a package.

Behaviours fuelling their reuse in households

One of the most persistent assumptions surrounding reused containers is that several rounds of washing are enough to remove the danger, which may not be true.

A drum may begin its life in a factory, warehouse, farm or chemical distribution business. After its original contents have been used, the container can become commercially worthless to the original owner but valuable to someone who needs a cheap storage vessel.

It can then pass from one hand to another through informal markets, roadside sellers, scrap dealers or personal networks. What once stood in a factory or warehouse carrying industrial chemicals may eventually find its way into a residential compound, where its industrial identity is forgotten, and its warning inscriptions are easily overlooked.

By then, the discarded drum has acquired a new purpose. A container designed to hold hazardous chemicals becomes a household water reservoir, a grain store, a fish pond or even a drinks cooler.

For Mrs Moji Akanlabi, the three medium-sized drums she bought in an effort to protect her food from rats were an affordable solution. She uses them to store rice, beans and other ingredients.

“I bought two small ones and one big one for N25,000. When I buy rice, I pour it into the drum and cover it.

“Also, for the beans, I first pour dried native pepper into the container and then pour the beans inside. This protects it from rats, while the pepper protects the beans from weevils.”

The cheap blue drums have been a saving grace for Mrs Evelyn Ukoko, helping her store water in a home where several tenants compete for a limited supply. She also uses one as a waste bin.

“I live in a public compound, and there are many of us using water. Once the water is pumped, other tenants will start fetching immediately. In a couple of minutes, the water is finished. Sometimes, you will come back from work and see no water to bathe or do anything.

“So, sometimes, when there is a power outage for a long time, you will have to spend a lot on water vendors. At one point, I saw where they sell them, and they were cheap. So, I decided to buy. I bought four big ones for N75,000 to store water. To be honest, I didn’t know the difference. I just saw that they had good covers, unlike the ones that are cut open.

“I use two of them in my kitchen, one in my bathroom and the other in the corridor of my toilet. They have been helpful. At least, I now have water when others don’t have. What I do is, when there is light and the water is being pumped, I fetch water and fill all the drums and other containers at home,” she added.

For Obinna Chibuzor, the drums have taken on yet another life. A small-scale fish farmer, he uses them to hold his fish because he cannot afford to construct a concrete or earthen pond.

But unlike a purpose-built fish pond, the drums came with a history he knew nothing about. He said he did nothing to detoxify them beyond washing them before putting them to use.

“I washed them very well before using them. I used hot water, salt and detergent to wash them after soaking them in water for 24 hours, but I did not have any idea that they could be dangerous. I have used them for about two years now. I have never had any case of chemical poisoning,” he told our correspondent when asked about detoxifying the drums before use.

The drums have also found their way into the event industry, where they serve a very different purpose.

For Lagos-based event planner, Chidi Ibeakom, the blue drums are mainly useful for chilling drinks at events. With more than 23 of them in his store, he hires some out to customers who need them for parties and other gatherings.

He admitted that he had never stopped to examine the inscriptions or warnings on the drums.

“Obviously, I do not know these things. I only buy them for my business. And I have over 23 of them because sometimes, people come to hire them. It has never crossed my mind. I know some stuff is written on them, but I have never bothered to read them.

“Well, now that I know, I will pay attention to it the next time I’m buying. I will avoid those with such warnings because we can’t stop using them; there are no alternatives for us. This is the only way we can keep our drinks chilled without hiring cooling vans. Sometimes, these drums even chill drinks better than cooling vans,” he added.

The safest rule

A chemical laboratory technician, Steven Amaike, advises Nigerians to shun any drums that previously contained hazardous chemicals and carry warnings against reuse for food or drink.

“Do not turn it into a food or drinking-water container, and do not rely on colour, smell or how clean it looks. Do not assume that a UN dangerous-goods packaging mark is a food-grade certification.

“A safer alternative is a container specifically manufactured and labelled for potable water or food contact, with traceable information from the manufacturer or supplier. These containers, whether white, blue or of any colour, check the instructions on them before you purchase. Look out for the ‘glass and fork’ sign, which signals approval for food and drink use,” he added.