Environment and Occupational Health in Bangladesh: WHO

Introduction:

WHO’s program for environment and occupational health aims at building capacity of relevant government organizations to reduce environmental health risks through research, policy advice, and awareness raising activities. Under this programme technical and policy supports are being provided to the major component of environment which are key determinants of health: Indoor Air Pollution, Occupational Health and Arsenicosis.

Country situation:

Occupational Health:

Generally, major thrust in industry sector is given on higher production and greater economic returns. Entrepreneurs often consider the regulatory compliances and related administrative costs as a deterrent to productivity. As such occupational health & safety considerations remains ignored.

Poor level understanding and even ignorance exists among the stake holders particularly among the employers and public agencies related to ensure Occupational Health and Safety.

Training and awareness programs are as such necessary focusing personnel like physicians, welfare officers, safety officers, inspectors, administrators, managers.

Arsenicosis:

Arsenic is ingested in human body mainly through drinking of contaminated ground water. High concentration of arsenic was first detected in shallow tube well of Chomogram Village of Chapainowabgonj district. Consequently 8 arsenicosis patients were identified by the fact findings group of the department of OEH, NIPSOM in 1994.

A comprehensive medical case definition has been agreed for arsenicosis that enables accurate detection of patients. Health personnel have been trained to better handle illness caused by arsenic. Considerable research has been undertaken to better understand the health impact of arsenic exposure and to try to develop an effective treatment protocol. Knowledge and understanding of arsenic health risk improved from applied research studies in Bangladesh. For long term knowledge development and impact it is felt that arsenic should be incorporated in medical curriculum. Forty percent (40%) of 20 million affected people have gained access to safe water source. Rural people are aware of complications resulted from Arsenicosis

Indoor Air Pollution:

Almost 92% of Bangladeshi population use biomass fuel for cooking. Women and children are exposed to high levels of IAP and contribute substantially to under-five mortality due to Acute Lower Respiratory Infection and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease death in women. Recent WHO estimates indicate that more than 32,000 ALRI deaths in children under-five and nearly 14,000 COPD deaths are attributable to solid fuel use. In Bangladesh total disease burden due to IAP is estimated to be 3.6%

Switching from smoke producing solid fuel to cleaner energy source should be ideal. This may not be possible in the context of present economic condition of majority of households. However, well designed improved stoves can be promoted which are able to reduce pollution between 50-90% increased level of combustion. Further, use of improved stoves can reduce the time spent by women for collecting fuel that is associated to alleviating drudgery and reducing vulnerability of achieving to MDG3. In fact addressing IAP can make a positive contribution to achieving most of the Millenniums Development Goals (MDG).

WHO Contribution:

Ø      WHO has provided technical support for developing a TOT manual along with simplified Bangla version on Indoor Air Pollution (IAP). A pool of trainers has been developed to build capacity of community towards reducing the harmful effect of IAP.

Ø      National framework on health impact of IAP was developed and supported research on health effect of biomass fuel combustion on women and children.

Ø      A national strategy for health and safety has been developed in English and Bangla.

Ø      Draft profile of construction sectors on safety and health was produced. A base data on prevalence of occupational injuries in the country has been developed.

Ø      A considerable number of health personnel have been trained to better handle illness caused by arsenic.

WHO Current collaboration:

The WHO Bangladesh provided technical assistance for developing a compendium of recent research studies on occupational health in Bangladesh. It also supported studies on workplace injuries at two tertiary level hospitals and a pilot epidemiological study on prevalence of occupational injury in Bangladesh. There are provision in the current biennium workplan to provide necessary support for developing education and training materials for health professional, and workers.

WHO has identified a few areas to research on Arsenic epidemiology; Multi-center multi-drug trial; Arsenic in food stuffs.  Follow up of the first identified arsenicosis cases as undertaken in the current work plan might yield valuable information regarding present status of those patients. Assessment of drinking water source and health status of the people of that village might be also informative for researcher.

Source: WHO – Country Office for Bangladesh. 7 September 2010

http://www.whoban.org/en/Section3/Section40/Section60.htm

Labour, rights groups call for workplace safety:

Various labour and rights organisations on Thursday observed the World Day for Safety and Health at Work-2011 with a call for ensuring safety at workplaces.

This year the day focused on the implementation of an occupational safety and health management system as a tool for continual improvement in the prevention of workplace incidents and accidents.

Bangladesh Occupational Safety, Health and Environment Foundation organised a seminar titled ‘Occupational Health and Safety Rights in Bangladesh: Challenges and Way Forward’ at the National Press Club to mark the day.

While presenting the keynote paper, the foundation’s research consultant M Shahadat Hossain Khan said the workers of Barapukuria coal mine were deprived of their rights according to International Labour Law.

The speakers alleged that Barapukuria Coal Mine Authority did not pay overtime to the lowly paid miners who sometimes have to work more than the scheduled eight hours duty.

The only Chinese doctor at the site refused to treat Bangladeshis, most of whom suffer from asthma, cough, eczema, sinusitis, and foot infections, labour leaders said demanding appointment of a local doctor to take care of the workers.

Citing newspaper statistics, OSHE executive director AR Chowdhury Ripon said in Bangladesh 424 workers were critically injured and 586 were killed as a result of occupational accidents from January to 20 April this year.

He added that occupational accidents mostly happened in mineral resources industries like Barapukuria Coal Mine Company Ltd.

Source: New Age. 29 April 2011

http://newagebd.com/newspaper1/national/17001.html

Managing industrial waste and protecting environment in Bangladesh:

Bangladesh has achieved steady economic growth of almost 6% annually over the last decade while half the population still lives under poverty line. Bangladesh is one of the Next 11 (N11), which have a great prospect of becoming middle income countries within a few years. Bangladesh is likely to achieve the status by 2021.

However, Bangladesh faces a range of problems including the environmental one. The country confronts with drought, flood and other natural hazards almost every year. The quality of soil has deteriorated due to use of chemical fertilisers, unplanned land use, undesirable encroachment into forest areas for agriculture and settlements and indiscriminate disposal of hazardous industrial wastes.

Temperature is rising for the reason of global worming, which is caused by emission of carbon and other gases increasing sea water level.

The surface water of the country is polluted through disposal of untreated industrial effluents and municipal waste water, runoff pollution from chemical fertilizers and pesticides and oil and lubes spillage in the coastal area from the operation of sea and river ports and ship wreckage.

Air pollution is one of the man-made environmental disasters that is creating environmental hazard all over the world. There are two major sources of air pollution in Bangladesh, namely vehicular emissions and industrial emissions, which are mainly concentrated in the cities. There are also numerous brick-making kilns working in dry season all over Bangladesh, which is another source of air pollution. Almost all of these kilns use coal and wood as their source of energy, resulting in the emissions of sulfur-dioxide and volatile organic compounds.

The depletion of biodiversity is the result of various kinds of human interventions by way of destruction and degradation of land, forest and aquatic habitats. These activities encompass the sectors of agriculture, forestry, fisheries, urbanisation, industry, transport, tourism, energy, chemicals and minerals etc. In the fisheries sector, unplanned shrimp cultivation has negative impact on environment. It has caused serious environmental damage that has harmed fish and other aquatic species.

A World Bank report has said Bangladesh could save between $200 million and $800 million per year if air pollution is reduced in just four major cities. There is another report saying homeless street children, local streetwalkers, and rickshaw pullers in the city of Dhaka pose a definite threat to the air pollution. Young children are mostly exposed to cadmium (Cd) through inhalation of smoke and contaminated soil including dust from the industrial emission and sewage sludge.

There is high concentration of lead (Pb) in the environment from variety of chemicals and other products based on lead and gasoline, batteries used; and also products like paints, ceramics, pigments etc are not under scrutiny to control lead content creating high concentration of lead in the environment.

The Textile industry is the fastest growing sector in Bangladesh. It accounts for almost 75% of annual foreign currency earnings. But this sector is also a source of major environmental pollution.

The wastewaters and other effluence released by the textile sector, which are characterized by high alkalinity, high biological oxygen demand (BOD) and high-suspended solids, are often disposed off in nearby rivers, canals, ponds or lakes without proper treatment. Wastewater released by those industries contains toxic refractory dye at a high concentration. Most of the dyes used in the textile industry are non-biodegradable.

The water of the Buriganga is now so polluted that all fish have died, and increasing filth and human waste have turned it like a black gel. Even rowing across the river is now difficult for it smells so badly.

The Bangladesh Society for Environment and Human Development (SEHD) in its report says a large number of the 8000-12000 workers at the tanneries suffers from gastrointestinal, dermatological and other diseases that could be related to the pollution and that 90% of them die before they reach the age of 50.

The affected area is Hazaribagh, where 240 tanneries are located on 25 hectares of land. Most of the tanneries are 30-35 years old and use mineral tanning processes that discharge about 6000 cubic metres of liquid effluent and 10 tonnes of solid waste every day, according to figures from the Bangladesh government and the Food and Agriculture Organization.

The liquid and solid industrial wastes greatly pollute the topsoil, which is highly productive and suitable for plant growth. Industrial wastes bring about great changes in the physical characteristics and chemical composition of the soil. Thus, industrial wastes lead to deterioration of soil quality.

Bangladesh has wide use of DDT as a pesticide although there is Pesticide Ordinance of 1971 and Pesticides Rules, 1985, making mandatory condition of registering DDT with relevant authority. There is no record of quantity of DDT used with the Plant Protection Wing (PPW) or Pesticide Association of Bangladesh (PAB). The use of DDT by City corporation is rampant.

There is no regulation of handling of the equipment with printed circuit board (PCBs). Since there is no disposal mechanism for PCB waste including the obsolete equipment, waste liquid with PCBs and solid PCB waste (metal, non-metal or soil contaminated with PCBs) generated by the leaks, damaged equipment or remediation and cleaning of facilities and sites contaminated with PCBs, many of these find their way in to the landfills.

Ship breaking sites are another threat since they release Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) into the environment. The concerns have grown since this is a growing industry in Bangladesh.

There are around 20-25 ship breaking yards where over 50 old ships are dismantled annually. It is a known fact that old ships contain PCBs in their electrical systems, paints and coatings, cables, lubricants, engine oils etc. In 1998, about 90% of the world's old ships were disposed in these areas. Based on the most conservative estimates the total quantity of PCBs from the ship breaking sector is around 22.5 tonnes. A significant quantity of PCBs have been disposed in the ground as well as spilled into the environment.

Bangladesh has production facilities for iron and steel, copper, aluminum, copper, lead, zinc, brass, and magnesium; foundries and thermal non-ferrous metal production as nickel. Of these Iron and steel and Aluminum production are the biggest contributors of dioxins and furans in the environment. The release is largely to air and through residues. The entire category however contributes approximately 31.98 g TEQ/a as per the estimates.

Power generation and heating including power plants run on fossil fuel; domestic cooking and heating are done using biomass and fossil fuels and others. This category is estimated to release 79.49gTEQ/a of dioxins and furans to the environment. Fossil fuels are the main sources of power generation and heating in Bangladesh. This category includes processes and practices that involve combustion of fossil fuel, biogas and others.

Production of mineral products includes cement, brick, glass, ceramic and others. The total release from this category is estimated at 9.091gTEQ/a. This largely includes processes carried out at high temperature. Bangladesh produces 15,000,000 tonnes of cement; 145,763 tonnes of lime, 25,376,000 tonnes of brick, 16,720 tonnes of glass and 94,680 tonnes of ceramics.

Brick kilns and cement factories are the largest contributors of dioxins. There are over 100 cement factories across the country most of them concentrated in and around Chhatak, Ayeenpur, Dhaka, Chittagong and Mongla. Similarly, there are over 6,000 brick kilns located near towns or major construction sites.

Transport sector in Bangladesh is one of the predominant sectors in terms of energy consumption. The transportation is largely based on petroleum oils and natural gas. Leaded fuel was banned in 1999. This category together is estimated to release 1.514 gTEQ/a of dioxins, a large part contributed by 4-stroke engines, 2-stroke engines, diesel engines and heavy oil fired engines.

The writer is a part-time teacher of Leading University. He can be reached at e-mail: shah@banglachemical.com

Source: The Financial Express. By M S Siddiqui. 2 July 2010

http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/more.php?page=detail_news&news_id=104780&date=2010-07-02

3 workers killed at Shipbreaking Yard in Chittagong

Three workers of a shipbreaking yard were crushed to death and another injured when a heavy iron plate fell on them at Madambibir Hat under Sitakunda upazila in the district on Saturday evening, 9 October 2010.

The deceased were identified as –

Abul Kalam, 20, of Noakhali;

Mohammad Faruk, 30, of Bhatiari area under Sitakunda uapzila and

Abul Bashar, 35, of Bogra.

At least 12 workers were carrying the heavy plate of steel, witnesses said, adding that the death toll could increase.

Injured worker Aminul Islam, 25, was being treated in Chittagong Medical College Hospital till about 10:30pm.

The Sitakunda police officer-in-charge, Nur Mohammad, said a case had been filed in this connection.

A heavy iron plate suddenly fell on the three workers leaving them dead on the spot around 7.00pm while working at the yard of Sima Steel, owned by one Mohammad Shafi, said Abdur Razzak, sub-inspector of Sitakunda Police Station.

Police sent the bodies to Chittagong Medical College Hospital for autopsy after the deceased co-workers recovered them, Razzak said.

A number of workers, however, said the yard's owner allowed no one to enter the yard till filing this story at 10:00 pm.

With this, at least 34 workers were killed and several others injured in the last 18 months in 16 accidents in 16 shipyards, mostly due to explosions and coming in contact with toxic materials in ships.

On March 5, 2009, the Supreme Court directed the government to ensure safety of those working at shipbreaking yards.

The government has so far failed to comply with the directive, as it allows the yards to operate without ensuring workers' safety, and also without obtaining environment clearance certificates.

Source:

The Daily Star, 10 October 2010

http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=157874

The New Age, 10 October 2010

http://www.newagebd.com/2010/oct/10/front.html#1

Bangladesh under big threat of 2.8 million electronic-waste

More than 2.8 million tonnes of electronic-waste generated every year from ship breaking yards and other electronic equipment in Bangladesh pose a big threat to the country's environment and human life, a survey revealed.
   
Environment and Social Development Organisation conducted the survey for last one year in two major cities in the country and briefed newsmen on the findings at WVA auditorium in Dhaka on Friday.
   
The survey report said besides ship breaking yards, other consumer products such as computers, televisions, mobile phones, compact fluorescent lamp, medical equipment and dental equipment are generating electronic waste or e-waste in the country and creating serious havoc on environment.
   
As the old or used electronic equipment are dumped in unscientific manner, these are causing environmental hazard, the report said and mentioned that due to lack of awareness, people dump the e-waste materials on land, farm land and into water bodies.
   
Dr Hossein Shahriar, secretary general of ESDO, and member of the steering committee of International Pops Elimination Network, presented the findings of the survey.
   
He said ESDO conducted a survey over the last year in various locations around Dhaka and Chittagong to determine the extent of the e-waste being generated in the cities.
   
'The study revealed that there is a huge amount of e-waste being generated in Bangladesh each year and the volume is increasing exponentially,' he said.
   
According to the survey, the e-waste generated from ship breaking yards is equivalent to approximately 2.5 million metric tons each year while the dumping of other equipment such as TV, computers, mobile phones, CFL, refrigerators, medical equipment also generate huge quantity of e-waste.
   
The ESDO stressed on immediate action to reduce the impact of the growing problem of e-waste in the country and to develop an e-waste management policy in this regard.

The briefing session was chaired by ESDO chairperson Syed Marghub Murshed and co-chaired by ESDO executive committee member Professor Najmul Ahsan Kallahmullah and ESDO executive director Siddika Sultana.

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha . Dhaka
Newage: http://www.newagebd.com/2010/oct/09/nat.html


Related reports & projects:

E-waste Management Scenario in Bangladesh: presentation prepared (2010) by Fazle Rabbi Sadeque Ahmed, Director, DOE, Bangladesh
http://gec.jp/gec/jp/Activities/ietc/fy2010/e-waste/ew_1-9.pdf

StEP: Solving the E-Waste Problem
http://www.step-initiative.org/taskforces/tf3.php

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Ship Breaking in Chittagong, Bangladesh

God knows what these workers are doing after the closure of Chittagong shipbreaking yards in August 2010.

Around 50 thousand workers were said to be involved directly in the breaking yards.

No doubts the activities in the shipbreaking yards were not well regulated, yards were polluting the environment and the occupational safety and health condition was poor...............but now who will take responsibility of these tens of thousands of workers and their family members?

Both Government and Industry should act in a more responsible manner. They should sit together to find an interim solution and keep the activities going. If recently ordered 'pre-cleaning of ships before import' is the ultimate issue, then Government may take some initiatives for the time being to break the deadlock and later start looking for a permanent and productive solution of the problem.

As interim measure Government may -

• subsidize a part of the cost of pre-cleaning of scrap ships in the exporting countries as required by the Supreme Court order, or
• reduce/waive taxes for importing ships for a period of time to compensate the cost of pre-cleaning of ships.

Later, Government may take initiatives to minimize or compensate the cost of cleaning/removal of hazardous materials from the ships to help the Bangladeshi Shipbreaking industry to remain competitive with other shipbreaking nations. Government may -

• establish modern Waste Reception Facility in Chittagong through public private partnership (PPP) or with the help of UN agencies (eg World Bank, ADB etc)  and International aid organizations ( like, Norad, JICA, GEF etc), who showed keen interest in the past to support the Shipbreaking industry to improve the working condition and the environment.
• train interested people or companies to develop skilled man-power capable of providing hazardous material cleaning/removal and disposal services.
• ensure acceptable shipbreaking practise and make bilateral agreements with the shipping nations for procuring old ships directly directly by the Bangladeshi Shipbreakers to avoid costly Cash Buyers and other brokers.

Labour vs pollution:

Ever since the Supreme Court (sc) ordered closure/relocation of polluting units in Delhi, which subsequently left nearly 50,000 people jobless, it has often been debated whether a conflict exists between environment conservation and labour rights. Trade union leaders argue that the relocation and closure will benefit the industrialists. On the other hand, we have seen that closure of industrial units does not necesssarily benefit the environment. The Centre for Science and Environment (cse) organised a debate to polarise opinion on the subject. Participants at the discussion included Sunita Narain , cse 's Deputy Director, Dunu Roy of The Other Media, cpi (Marxist) leader and academic Biplab Dasgupta , Supreme Court advocate S Muralidhar , Jamia Milia Islamia professor Mohammad Talib and Devaki Panini from Human Rights Law Network. 

Given below are excerpts of what each speaker had to say:

ROY: I would say there are three major issues on which people should focus the discussion. Firstly, is that it is easier to take decisions regarding labour than capital. Is it something that can be changed. Secondly, can the environmentalist and the labour movements work together? If they want to work together then the question is how can we move towards that situation. Thirdly, do we want to learn from history? If we do not learn from our own misdoings and from history, then we have a major problem on our hands. The solution, as pointed out earlier, may also lie in our understanding of how the environment and labour movements can work together and how policy decisions can be made in favour of labour, rather than capital.

DASGUPTA: I was thinking about how the Indian environmental and labour movement can be linked to what is happening at the global level. At the global level, several agencies have been discussing this. They are the ILO from the labour side and UNEP from the environment side. What has to be recognised is that capital is mobile while labour is not. We also have treatise like the WTO etc, which are being backed by the UN agencies. Trade unionists believe that such pacts are anti-labour. From the environment point of view, we should talk about two kinds of limits -- outer limit and inner limit.

What is the outer limit? The outer limit is that if you go beyond the outer limit to push in development then the environment will be effected in such a way that existence will be impossible. I would consider the outer limit as issues such as nuclear blasts and the ozone layer. On the other hand, the inner limit is a point where immediate cause for concern is not a threat to the existence of humankind, but is related to the demands of economic development. When you have people living in the forest and the forest is threatened, the lifesystems of these people are also threatened. Also, if a big project like a dam is built, then the people are displaced and they are forced to migrate.

This in turn adds to the team of the unorganised labour force, in turn making it easier for the industrialist to exploit them. Having recognised this, I think there is no conflict such as the environment versus development. What is important is that the environmentalist should recognise that unless something is done to eradicate poverty, or until the working class is given its due rights, it will be difficult to convince them that environmental degradation will affect their lives.

MURALIDHAR: I do not see any conflict between environmental concerns and labour rights. I do not think they can be put into separate compartments. As far as I remember I am not sure whether trade unions have actively participated in setting standards regarding hazardous processes in the industries. I have always wondered why trade unions don't actively asked for participation in setting work standards in the industries. They have only agitated on issues such as bonus and wages. On the other hand, whenever the environmentalist have taken issues to the court, they have been done in a unidimensional way. And so at the reaction of the trade unionist has been that their rights have been overlooked.

As far as the courts are concerned, they have also lacked imagination. PIL s had their positive and negative aspects. One obsevervation is that most of the environmental issues are dealt with in a statutory revision. And in that statutory regime anything is seen within the context of law. Also all the remedies are sought from the aspect of the law. PIL helped in formulating two principles which we needed to developed. One is the polluter pays principles. And the second being the precautionary principles. In the opening remarks, someone mentioned Bichhri. In Bichhri, the court recognised the polluter pays principle. But when it came relocation of industries in Delhi no one argued for this principle.

The whole exercise involved relocating all of Delhi's industries and relocating the labour that involves huge costs. Why should the industry not pay the cost of that relocation? But, on the other hand, we had the industry bargaining and getting for itself the deal it wanted. And I didn't see anyone, including M C Mehta protest, why should a polluting industry be allowed to pollute in the neigbouring state.

In India, the pattern of labour is such that there is an organised sector and unorganised sector. The law and the courts only deal with the organised sector. In case of relocation of industries in Delhi, when we talk of 50,000 workers, not even one fifth of them fall in the organised sector. They don't have their names in the books and therefore they are not eligible for compensation when an industry is relocated or closed. This is a serious question which the trade unions have refused to address.

Similarly, the trade unions do not see the problem of child labour as a labour problem. This brings us back to the question of a decisive approach. In case of the labour movement we see they have adopted the decisive approach within the movement, that is not recognising unorganised labour. I, for instance, being involved in the Bhopal gas litigation, was always surprised how out of that litigation one concern was not highlighted. I mean the voice from the workers themselves. They were dealing with a very hazardous process. But no one in the unorganised labour force protested about working in those conditions.

I think we haven't had that kind of response from within the labour force about environment, about the conditions of work about the health of workers.

TALIB: I came here as a distant observer. But I believe that one should go beyond tigers and trees and recognise that the migrant labour, in the urban sector is an ecological migrant. The systems of the worker is partly to do with what the calculus of wage doesn't really have an answer to. I had the opportunity to visit some of the closed factories of Delhi and wondered how these factories were allowed to come up in the first place. That there is something like the right to know right or information is completely lacking from the institution of governance.

Recently in Singrauli there was a demonstration of how useful ash is for vegetation. A play was done with where one individual demonstrated that ash could also be eaten and nothing happens to the body. He was obviously making a dig at the whole argument that fly ash can be used in a useful way.

I agree with Murali, that the trade unions are only concerned with wage and something that happens outside the factory is not their concern. What has to be recognised is that environmental degradation ultimately erodes wage. I look at the relocation of industries in Delhi from this perspective. So I would imagine that some kind of environmental regime, consisting of environmentalists, labour unions of lawyers and human rights lawyers would have to work together. Otherwise it would not be possible to really fight the might of the capital.

PANINI: I can't agree more with Murali that labour and environment are closely related and that I would share his concern that there is no dichotomy between the two. In the last couple of months we had several cases being referred to us but one such case which is interesting is the question of developing versus the developed countries. There are ships carrying hazardous waste coming to India, China and Bangladesh. At Alang, we have the biggest ship-breaking industry in India. There is very little that is done to remove them or rid the ships of hazardous waste. That's why Murali's comment about regulating hazardous waste becomes so important.

The workers who are involved in ship breaking are exposed to hazardous waste. Most of them are migrant workers from the unorganised sector. These ships also raise environmental concern, therefore, we have a clear link between the environment and the labour. And as Talib rightly pointed out, I think workers have a right to information, about the kind of hazardous waste they are dealing with.

NARAIN: I think this is a very interesting debate and it should be taken ahead. I feel the problem largely lies with the agencies that are supposed to implement the law. I get very angry when a lot of people blame environmentalists. They accuse us of wanting the closure of factories. Our argument is that the state agencies are supposed to monitor and enforce the rule of law.

If they are unable to enforce the law then the courts are bound to give orders. I don't think the courts should have ordered the closure in the first instance. They should have tried to regulate the industry or tried to bring in some effluent treatment plant. One needs to constantly strive to find a way where a common treatment plant can be built, taking in mind the economics of it. My associate Anil Agarwal has consistently been trying to get the government and the industrialist to sit together and evolve a strategy where such a plant is built.

I think we really need to identify one thing in terms of the labour and the environmental conflicts. It is the inability of the system to actually enforce the law. And therefore, to me also the issue is how to you enforce laws in a way that you can pre-empt the crises from building up. Environmentalists have been increasingly suggesting that people, local people, need to be involved in this enforcement of law. So that we have public participation because one cannot trust the bureaucracy in these matters.

But will this alone resolve the conflict, if there is one? I also want to say that I think in many cases we don't know what the right answer is. I think that also we don't have the right technical know-how. We don't have the capacity to know what needs to be done. I mean just like shrimp farming. I am very opposed to the closure of shrimp farms as an environmentalist.

If you need development, then you need shrimp farming. What is needed in this case, I feel is that the poor fisherfolk form a co-operative. Shrimp farming is a much like milk production. Question is who will do it and how will it be done.

Source: Down to Earth, India. 15 Oct 1999

http://www.downtoearth.org.in/node/20536

Combating organic chemical pollutants:

THE world is changing fast. Overall environment, beaches and forests are severely getting affected by pollution thanks to the growing population of the world. In the last 50 years, people have generated 80,000 types of chemicals. Of them, there are organic chemical pollutants known as 'dirty dozen', which is very harmful to human bodies. These pollutants constantly enter bodies through food and drink and cripple different limbs.

Environmentalists say the world environment and its population are now at stake due to the adverse impacts of these chemicals. Bangladesh too is gradually getting affected by the harmful pollutants.

In 1967, American Environmental Protection Agency banned 12 persistent organic pollutants (POPs) branded as 'dirty dozen'. Later, this ban got connected with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Of the 12 pollutants, nine are insecticides, such as, Dieldrin, Aldrin, Chlorden, DDT, Endrin, Heptachlor, Mirex, Toxaphane and Hexachloro Benzene. One is Polychlorinated Bi-phenyl, an industrial chemical. And, the remaining two pollutants are Dioxin and Furans created from incomplete burning.

The specific harmful characteristic of POPs insecticides (Aldrin, Dieldrin, AEndrin etc.) is they have a long life. And from the sources, these elements can spread from one place to another and even from one country to another through air, water or other means. As a result, these can be found in places where they are not produced.

In winter countries, these elements are found in higher quintiles, as they are not dissolved in water. But, they are dissolved in fat or muscles of humans and other animals. So, they get deposited in fat of bodies and increase gradually. Due to long-term presence of these elements, people may suffer from thyroid or hormone-related problems, nerve weakness, birth defects, tumour, cancer and loss of anti-body.

Due to the attack of POPs chemicals, the normal growth of embryo is hindered, babies are born underweight and death rate gets higher. Besides, these chemicals cause infertility, bronchial problems and itching.

Attack by Dioxin and Furans causes Clorance disease. The symptoms of this disease are vomiting tendency, losing eyesight, short of hearing, respiratory problems, weight loss, headache, change in normal functions of liver, pancreas and kidney etc.

Rivers and coastal areas of Bangladesh are being dangerously polluted by these types of organic chemicals. According to a survey conducted in 1999 by Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, 3.109 milligram of PCB have been found in the country's river waters.

Sources at Environment Department say the pollution level of the Meghna, Dakatia, Karnaphuli, and Kushiara is very high. Besides, a study on eight points of the Karnaphuli shows there exists a high level of chemicals in the river due to dumping of waste from TSP Fertiliser Factory and Karnaphuli Paper Mill. The Bay of Bengal is also being polluted for that.

In Chittagong, over 5,000 villagers and labourers have been affected by poisonous gas reaction and secretion of PCB during ship breaking and repair at Sitakunda Ship-breaking Yard.

A survey by Environment and Social Development Organisation during 1995-1999 showed the pollution level of three rivers -- the Turag, the Bangsi and the Buriganga -- is very high. Besides, reliable sources say rivers like the Shitalakhya, the Pashur, the Rupsha and the Surma are being polluted greatly by chemicals coming from cement, soap, dyeing and leather factories, and paper mills.

In Bangladesh, incomplete burning is the main source of Dioxin and Furans, two of the organic pollutants. Burning of wastes, cooking in closed rooms or use of low quality cookers, chemical factories, two-stroke engines, liquid waste of tanneries and chemicals create these elements. Electric transformer, electric fan, capacitor and oil used in switch gear are the main sources of synthetic chemicals -- PCB. Besides, the source of other nine POPs insecticides is the places where imported organic chemical pollutants are stored. POPs insecticides are not produced in Bangladesh. They are imported from countries like the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar, India and Pakistan.

In a convention in the Swedish capital of Stockholm on May 22, 2001, it was decided that all the POPs in the world would be destroyed. It is stated in clause 7 that each country should formulate a national implementation plan to eradicate these organic chemical pollutants known as POPs for protecting public health and environment.

Environment and Social Development Organisation (ESDO), an NGO, recently organised a workshop on POPs. At the workshop, ESDO director Dr Hossain Shahriar said, "These elements can stay in environment for a long time. Some POPs survive on earth for more than 10 years."

About the present situation in Bangladesh regarding POPs, he said, "Though DDT powder has been banned it is marketed in different names. Many people call it white powder. In Kuakata, high level of DDT powder is used on dry fish. Then again the dye used in textile sector has Persistent Toxic Substance (PTS), which is not only harmful to clothes, but also to health. In tanneries, Aldrin is used in leather processing. We have seen in a village of Narayanganj farmers are using POPs insecticide Dieldrin to make tomatoes ripe. The same is happening in Chapainawabganj."

Though as a member of the United Nations, Bangladesh banned the 'dirty dozen' in 1997, the existence of these elements is still here to a great extent. So, it has become essential for the government to take effective measures to protect public health and environment from these long-term organic chemicals. And to address the issue, proper enforcement of laws and public awareness are needed.

Due to the attack of POPs chemicals, the normal growth of embryo is hindered, babies are born underweight and death rate gets higher. Besides, these chemicals cause infertility, bronchial problems and itching.

Attack by Dioxin and Furans causes Clorance disease. The symptoms of this disease are vomiting tendency, losing eyesight, short of hearing, respiratory problems, weight loss, headache, change in normal functions of liver, pancreas and kidney etc.

Rivers and coastal areas of Bangladesh are being dangerously polluted by these types of organic chemicals. According to a survey conducted in 1999 by Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, 3.109 milligram of PCB have been found in the country's river waters. 

Sources at Environment Department say the pollution level of the Meghna, Dakatia, Karnaphuli, and Kushiara is very high. Besides, a study on eight points of the Karnaphuli shows there exists a high level of chemicals in the river due to dumping of waste from TSP Fertiliser Factory and Karnaphuli Paper Mill. The Bay of Bengal is also being polluted for that. 

In Chittagong, over 5,000 villagers and labourers have been affected by poisonous gas reaction and secretion of PCB during shipbreaking and repair at Sitakunda Shipbreaking Yard.

A survey by Environment and Social Development Organisation during 1995-1999 showed the pollution level of three rivers -- the Turag, the Bangsi and the Buriganga -- is very high. Besides, reliable sources say rivers like the Shitalakhya, the Pashur, the Rupsha and the Surma are being polluted greatly by chemicals coming from cement, soap, dyeing and leather factories, and paper mills. 

In Bangladesh, incomplete burning is the main source of Dioxin and Furans, two of the organic pollutants. Burning of wastes, cooking in closed rooms or use of low quality cookers, chemical factories, two-stroke engines, liquid waste of tanneries and chemicals create these elements. Electric transformer, electric fan, capacitor and oil used in switch gear are the main sources of synthetic chemicals -- PCB. Besides, the source of other nine POPs insecticides is the places where imported organic chemical pollutants are stored. POPs insecticides are not produced in Bangladesh. They are imported from countries like the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar, India and Pakistan.

In a convention in the Swedish capital of Stockholm on May 22, 2001, it was decided that all the POPs in the world would be destroyed. It is stated in clause 7 that each country should formulate a national implementation plan to eradicate these organic chemical pollutants known as POPs for protecting public health and environment. 

Environment and Social Development Organisation (ESDO), an NGO, recently organised a workshop on POPs. At the workshop, ESDO director Dr Hossain Shahriar said, "These elements can stay in environment for a long time. Some POPs survive on earth for more than 10 years."

About the present situation in Bangladesh regarding POPs, he said, "Though DDT powder has been banned it is marketed in different names. Many people call it white powder. In Kuakata, high level of DDT powder is used on dry fish. Then again the dye used in textile sector has Persistent Toxic Substance (PTS), which is not only harmful to clothes, but also to health. In tanneries, Aldrin is used in leather processing. We have seen in a village of Narayanganj farmers are using POPs insecticide Dieldrin to make tomatoes ripe. The same is happening in Chapainawabganj."

Though as a member of the United Nations, Bangladesh banned the 'dirty dozen' in 1997, the existence of these elements is still here to a great extent. So, it has become essential for the government to take effective measures to protect public health and environment from these long-term organic chemicals. And to address the issue, proper enforcement of laws and public awareness are needed. 

Source: The Financial Express. By Senjuti Barua. 16 November 2007

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