Ivory Coast - Illegal Dumping of Hazardous Waste - December 1997
In December 1997, the illegal dumping of hazardous waste at the port of Abidjan, Ivory Coast, caused severe environmental and public health issues. This incident involved approximately 1020 tons of chemical waste exported from Europe. The waste contained sulfuric acid (about 60%), phenol (about 15%), organochlorine compounds (about 10%), and other corrosive chemicals.
The waste was dumped across 18 locations in Abidjan, seven of which were densely populated areas. As a result, approximately 26000 residents reported health problems, with over 1000 requiring hospital treatment. Among the victims, at least 15 people reportedly died from acute poisoning caused by the waste.
International support was necessary to address the issue. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and multinational organizations provided approximately 3 million USD. The cleanup took over six months and involved the removal of approximately 80000 cubic meters of contaminated soil.
The root cause of the incident was the significant cost difference in waste disposal. In Europe, disposal costs were around 1000 USD per ton, while in Ivory Coast, it was only about 20 USD per ton. Some companies exploited this disparity to illegally export the waste.
This incident highlighted the need for stricter international regulations under the Basel Convention on hazardous waste management. Today, Ivory Coast has banned hazardous waste imports and significantly improved its waste management system. This case remains a symbol of the importance of environmental regulations and the challenges of global waste management.
No comments:
Post a Comment