Wandera Ojanji
6 October 2007
Nairobi — HUNDREDS of residents of Dandora, Nairobi, risk contracting killer diseases due to toxic substances from the dumpsite.
The research, commissioned by the UN Environment Programme (Unep) warns that the dumpsite, one of the largest in Africa, is a threat, especially to children living nearby and the city's environment generally.
Almost half of the children tested were suffering from respiratory diseases, including chronic bronchitis and asthma, according to the report, Environmental Pollution and Impacts on Public Health; Implications of the Dandora Municipal Dumping Site in Nairobi, Kenya.
Half of the children tested had concentrations of lead in their blood exceeding internationally accepted levels.
About 42 per cent of soil samples in the area had 10 times higher levels of lead.
Researchers say there has been an alarming rise in cases of asthma, anaemia and skin infections among children.
"These abnormalities are linked to the environment around the dumping site, and are exacerbated by poverty, illiteracy and malnutrition," said Mr Njoroge Kimani, principal investigator and author of the report.
"Since waste dumping is unrestricted and unmanaged, people are also at risk from contracting blood-borne diseases such as hepatitis and HIV/Aids."
Speaking at the launch of the report, Mr Achim Steiner, Unep Executive Director, said: "We had anticipated some tough and worrisome findings, but the actual results are even more shocking than we had imagined at the outset."
The study shows dangerously high levels of heavy metals, especially lead, mercury and cadmium, at the dumpsite, in the surrounding environment and in local residents.
Low haemoglobin levels and anaemia, some of the known symptoms of lead poisoning, have been detected in 50 and 30 percent of the children.
Exposure to high lead levels is also linked to a wide range of other ill effects, including damage to the nervous system and brain, while cadmium poisoning causes damage to internal organs, especially kidney.
The study also found evidence of the presence of hazardous waste, such as chemical and hospital waste.
Committing £200,000 towards efforts to solving problems associated with the dumpsite, Steiner said Unep is ready to assist the local and national authorities in the search for improved waste management systems. The 30-acre Dandora dumping site receives 2,000 tonnes of rubbish every day.
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