WASHINGTON and ROME, Sept. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- High quantities of toxic
chemical waste from unused or obsolete pesticides are posing a continuing and
worsening threat to people and the environment in Eastern Europe, Africa,
Asia, the Middle East and Latin America, the Food and Agriculture Organization
of the United Nations (FAO) warned today.
For example, it is estimated that the Ukraine has around 19,500 metric
tons of ageing chemicals, Macedonia 10,000 tons, Poland 15,000 tons and
Moldova 6,600 tons.
Stocks in Asia are currently recorded at 6,000 metric tons, a figure which
does not include China, where the problem of pesticide waste is believed to be
widespread. In the Middle East and Latin America together around 10,000 tons
have been declared and countries are asking FAO increasingly for help.
"Affected countries are calling -- ever more frequently and with greater
urgency -- for assistance to remove their obsolete pesticide stocks and
prevent the further accumulation of toxic waste," said Mark Davis, head of
FAO's program on the Prevention and Disposal of Obsolete Pesticides on the
occasion of an expert consultation held in Rome.
"Unfortunately, without additional funds from donor countries, FAO will be
unable to respond to its member nations that need assistance because funding
for an FAO program on the prevention and disposal of obsolete pesticides is
ending by the end of this year," he added.
Hazardous waste
Obsolete pesticides are left over from pest control campaigns. Stockpiles
have accumulated because a number of products have been banned for health or
environmental reasons, but were never removed and disposed of. Stocks remain
where they are stored and often deteriorate to contaminate the environment and
put people at risk.
The worst affected are frequently poor rural communities that may not even
be aware of the toxic nature of the chemicals they are daily exposed to.
The waste sites contain some of the most dangerous insecticides like the
Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) aldrin, chlordane, DDT, dieldrin, endrin,
heptachlor and organophosphates.
The condition of obsolete pesticide stocks varies from well-stored
products that can still be used in the field, to products that have leaked
from corroded steel drums and other containers into the soil. Pesticide
poisoning is common close to unmanaged sites.
Africa
The amount of obsolete stocks in 53 African countries is estimated at
50,000 metric tons, FAO said. FAO is participating in the Africa Stockpiles
Program (ASP), a multi-partner initiative, which aims to clear obsolete
pesticide stocks from African countries and put in place measures to prevent
the problem from recurring.
Nevertheless, several African countries that cannot benefit from the ASP
in its first phase of activities are calling on FAO for immediate assistance.
"Countries such as Algeria, Cameroon, Somalia, Eritrea and Senegal are
deeply concerned about the continuing severe health and environmental impacts
of their obsolete pesticide stocks," Davis said.
With financial support from Japan, FAO has recently identified around 600
metric tons of obsolete pesticides in Mozambique, despite a previous clean-up.
Japan has provided $850,000 for this project and has committed a further $1
million for clean-up and prevention.
The Netherlands has contributed about $8.9 million to FAO's prevention and
disposal of obsolete pesticides and has pledged an addition $2 million to help
with the Africa Stockpiles Program.
"Clean-up and prevention measures urgently need to be combined. The
awareness of a targeted and limited use of pesticides, respecting human health
and the environment, needs to be urgently raised in many countries. More
countries are showing a desire to address the problem of pesticide management
and use," Davis said.
The clean-up of one metric ton of obsolete pesticide waste costs around
$3,500. Most developing countries do not have the facilities for safe
hazardous waste disposal.
The present upsurge of locusts in Africa requires extensive control
measures. Affected countries and FAO are making all efforts to ensure that
this campaign does not result in further obsolete stocks and that effects on
the environment are being reduced.
FAO has been the lead agency in dealing with obsolete pesticides in
developing countries since 1994. FAO activities include initiating and
coordinating national inventories, coordinating and monitoring disposal
projects, publishing guidelines on prevention and management and public
outreach. FAO also promotes and supports integrated pest management programs
and strong pesticide control measures.
Related links: Prevention and Disposal of Obsolete Pesticides
http://www.fao.org/WAICENT/FAOINFO/AGRICULT/AGP/AGPP/Pesticid/Disposal/index_e
n.htm
Africa Stockpiles Program
http://www.africastockpiles.org/index.html
SOURCE Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
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Related links:
http://www.fao.org/english/newsroom
CONTACT:
Michael Hage, Media Relations, of Food and
Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, +1-202-653-0011,
or michael.hage@fao.org
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