Partner: Blacksmith Institute (BSI), USA.
Date: 5th October 2009.
Locale: Peshawar
Team Members: Nazima shaheen, Dr. Mahmood A. Khwaja
Background:
Blacksmith Institute (BSI), USA and SDPI signed a Memorandum of Agreement and enter into a partnership to cooperate in chemically polluted sites assessment work in Pakistan, as a part of “The Global Inventory Project (GIP).”
In continuation of the MoU signed for the Global Inventory project: Mapping of chemical Contaminated Sites in Pakistan to safeguard public health and environment in and around the polluted site area, SDPI research team visited the hazardous chemicals wastes dump site, next to Police Secondary school for boys, near Peshawar University on October 5, 2009.
Finding:
On the site, data was collected and interviews of stakeholders were taken. Samples of the chemical wastes inside the blue containers at the site, nearby soil and subsurface water were also taken for chemical analyses. About 30 big size drums in a shipping container and 130 small size blue containers are there in open for the last 15 years. Some of the drums have been visibly cracked and a dark brown colour amorphous semi-solid chemical waste with a pungent smell was pouring out of the containers. Within seconds, the eyes and face of one of the team members started itching & burning followed watering of eyes. There were complaints of asthma and diseases among the nearby residents.
Status: Closed
