A report has emanated from Switzerland which has indicted some European oil firms of selling diesel with toxin levels that are illegal in Europe to Africa.
The report by the campaign group Public Eye mentioned Vitol, Trafigura, Addax & Oryx and Lynx Energy as the companies selling the toxin fuel to Nigeria, Ghana and other countries.
The companies exploited the weak regulatory standards in Nigeria and the other African countries. Sulphur contained in the fumes from the diesel fuel could increase respiratory illnesses like asthma and bronchitis in affected countries, health experts say.
The sulphur particles emitted by a diesel engine are considered to be a major contributor to air pollution, which the World Health Organization (WHO) ranks as one of the top global health risks. It is associated with heart disease, lung cancer and respiratory problems.
Several African countries allowed diesel to have a sulphur content of more than 2,000 parts per million (ppm), with some allowing more than 5,000ppm, whereas the European standard is less than 10ppm.
Rob de Jong from the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) told the BBC that there was a lack of awareness among some policy makers about the significance of the sulphur content.
