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Environmental Effects of Safrole Oil Extraction

Safrole oil is one of the key ingredients needed for the production of illicit drug MDMA or ecstasy. Despite having commercial value for use in fragrances and pesticides, safrole oil is a controlled substance and is red listed by the International Narcotics Control Board. Safrole oil extraction has detrimental effects on the environment, contributing to deforestation, habitat destruction and water pollution.

  1. Safrole Oil

    • Safrole oil, also known as sassafras oil or thitkado, meaning good-smelling tree, is predominantly sourced from the Cardamom Mountain Areas of Cambodia and the Mata Atlantica areas of southern Brazil. There are an estimated 361 trees rich in safrole oil, mainly from the Lauraceae tree family, such as the Cinnamomum camphora and Ocotea pretiosa. Extraction yields oil up to 90-percent purity.

    Extraction Process

    • Safrole oil extraction is lengthy and unsustainable. Safrole-rich trees are cut into small blocks and shredded. Extraction then occurs via steam distillation in large metal vats over a wooden fire for approximately five days. Researchers estimate that for every tree used for extraction, five trees are required for firewood in the distillation process, thus exacerbating deforestation. Although primarily found in stumps and roots, some trees contain safrole oil in leaves and twigs, which can be sustainably harvested.

    Impact of Deforestation

    • Sarole oil production leads to severe deforestation and several rare tree species, such as the Mreah Prew Phnom, face extinction. The Cardamom Mountains in Cambodia contains over two million hectares of rainforest; and, according to Flora and Fauna International, its deforestation could release approximately 1.4 billion tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Deforestation also destroys the remaining habitats of over 80 endangered animal species, such as the Indochinese tiger, the Siamese crocodile and the Asian elephant.

    Impact of Distillation

    • Safrole oil distilleries are usually located near streams and rivers as water is needed for distillation. These water sources become contaminated and cause ecological damage to aquatic life. The oil also has carcinogenic properties, and enters water supplies of nearby communities, leading to potential health risks. Workers required to live close to distilleries also engage in illegal poaching of endangered animals for food and commercial sale.

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