CHEMICALS of PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERN and Their Management in the African Region
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H H C Hg H N C OH O O HO OH OH CHEMICALS OF PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERN and their management in the African Region REGIONAL ASSESSMENT REPORT 4 JULY 2014 AFRO LIBRARY CATALOGUING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA Chemicals of public health concern in the African Region and their management: Regional Assessment Report 1. Chemically-Induced Disorders – prevention & control 2. Environmental Exposure 3. Polluants environnemental – adverse effects – toxicity 4. Hazardous Substances 5. Risk Management 6. Health Impact Assessment I. World Health Organization. Regional Office for Africa II.Title ISBN: 978-929023281-0 (NLM Classification:QZ 59) © WHO REGIONAL OFFICE FOR AFRICA, 2014 Publications of the World Health Organization enjoy The mention of specific companies or of certain copyright protection in accordance with the provisions manufacturers’ products does not imply that they of Protocol 2 of the Universal Copyright Convention. are endorsed or recommended by the World Health All rights reserved. Copies of this publication may be Organization in preference to others of a similar nature obtained from the Library, WHO Regional Office for that are not mentioned. Errors and omissions excepted, Africa, P.O. Box 6, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo (Tel: the names of proprietary products are distinguished by +47 241 39100; +242 06 5081114; Fax: +47 241 initial capital letters. 39501; E-mail: [email protected]). Requests for permission to reproduce or translate this publication All reasonable precautions have been taken by the – whether for sale or for non-commercial distribution – World Health Organization to verify the information should be sent to the same address. contained in this publication. However, the published material is being distributed without warranty of any The designations employed and the presentation of the kind, either express or implied. The responsibility for material in this publication do not imply the expression the interpretation and use of the material lies with of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the World the reader. On no account shall the World Health Health Organization concerning the legal status of any Organization or its Regional Office for Africa be liable for country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or damages arising from its use. concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Dotted lines on maps represent approximate border lines for which there may not yet be full agreement. Printed in the Republic of Congo ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS .............................................................................................................................................. V FOREWORD ..................................................................................................................................................................................................... VI ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .......................................................................................................................................................................VII 1. INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................................................................................1 1.1 Background ...........................................................................................................................................................................................1 1.2 Justification..........................................................................................................................................................................................2 1.3 Objectives and expected results of the assessment .............................................................................................2 1.4 Expected deliverables .................................................................................................................................................................3 1.5 Methodology ......................................................................................................................................................................................3 2. CHEMICALS OF MAJOR PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERN IN THE AFRICAN REGION .......................5 2.1 Heavy metals ......................................................................................................................................................................................7 2.2 Fluoride ................................................................................................................................................................................................18 2.3 Cyanide .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 20 CONTENTS 2.4 Air pollutants ..................................................................................................................................................................................22 2.5 Benzene ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 26 2.6 Asbestos ............................................................................................................................................................................................28 2.7 POPs .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 29 2.8 Pesticides ...........................................................................................................................................................................................31 3. CHEMICAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS IN THE AFRICAN REGION ...........................................................37 3.1 Regional capacity for prevention, detection and management of chemical risks .....................37 3.2 Management of chemical waste ..................................................................................................................................... 48 4. GAP ANALYSIS ....................................................................................................................................................................................55 4.1 Strengths and challenges in chemical management .........................................................................................55 5. RECOMMENDATIONS AND PROPOSED ACTIONS ..............................................................................................57 5.1 Recommendations .....................................................................................................................................................................57 5.2 Priority actions ............................................................................................................................................................................ 59 ANNEXES 1: Chemical incidents reported by responding Member States ..........................................................................61 2: Self-assessment tool on the impact of chemicals and their management systems ................... 64 REFERENCES ...................................................................................................................................................................................................71 LIST OF FIGURES ACRONYMS AND 1. Member states that responded to the self-assessment questionnaire .....................................................................................4 2. Chemicals of major public health concern in the WHO African Region ....................................................................................6 ABBREVIATIONS 3. Distribution of heavy metals in the WHO African Region ................................................................................................................ 7 μg/m³ Microgram per cubic meter 4. Mercury as a public health concern in the WHO African Region ................................................................................................. 9 ASGM artisanal small-scale gold mining 5. Lead as a public health concern in the WHO African Region .................................................................................................... 13 ASP African Stockpiles Programme 6. Cadmium as a public health concern in the Who African Region ............................................................................................ 15 COPD chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 7. Countries reporting Arsenic in the WHO African Region .............................................................................................................. 17 DDE dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene 8. Fluoride as a public health concern in the WHO African Region .............................................................................................. 20 DDTEQUAP Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane External Quality Assessment Programme 9. Cyanide as a public health concern in the WHO African Region .............................................................................................. 22 EU European Union 10. Exposure to indoor air pollutants in the WHO African Region ..................................................................................................