Toxics in Humans
Biomonitoring of Mercury Contamination in Nepal
Fish & Community Mercury Monitoring Project in Kenya
Raising awareness on Mercury (Phase 2)
Continuing their work on mercury-related harms, Eco-Sense turned their attention to Veles, a city awash in mercury contamination (and other heavy metals) stemming from a now-defunct zinc smelter. Noting that the Veles smelter is often nicknamed the “Macedonian Chernobyl”, Eco-sense is committed to raising greater awareness in this heavily polluted area.
Raising awareness on mercury
Eco-Sense conducted several activities as part of its continuing efforts to inform the public about the dangers of mercury pollution. These included translating five informative fact sheets about mercury (how toxic it is, how it is used by the health care industry, how one becomes exposed to it through fish consumption, how to manage small spills, and what alternatives exist) into Macedonian. Eco-Sense also contracted with the Chemistry Institute to test 33 hair samples for mercury.
Strengthening Community Participation for Safety against Chemical Pollution
Following two separate pollution incidents by the Cleanway Technology Corporation in 2009, Cavite Green Coalition community organizers staged a series of activities to create awareness in the community and push for a closing down of the plant. This included an initial chemical safety seminar in the community that spurred a letter writing campaign to local government agencies and key officials. Mass mobilizations and picket lines outside the company followed this action and were successful in temporarily closing the plant.
Public Participation (Civil society and public interest NGO participation)
In 2010 Greenwomen”staff attended the Sixth Asia and the Pacific Ministerial Conference held in Astana. The conference provided the Greenwomen team the opportunity to form regional and international partnerships with other NGOs that also work on chemical management issues. The Greenwomen report, "National NGOs Action Plan on SAICM Implementation”, was distributed widely at the conference. Among other functions, this report was designed as a practical framework for NGOs pushing for SAICM implementation.
Disseminating information on chemicals in Macedonia
In 2010, Eco-Sense conducted a chemical assessment of 30 cosmetic and 30 household products found in local markets. The research resulted in a comprehensive list of chemicals present in these products, the risks linked to the chemicals found, and suggestions for chemical-free products that could be used by consumers as an alternative. In addition to a detailed report, colorful shopping guides with a picture of the product and a list of warning signs for consumers to use when choosing products were produced.
Childrens’ Neurotoxicity in communities exposed to cement and other industries in Apaxco-Atotonilco
Centro de Diagnostico y Alternativas para Afectados por Tóxicos (CEDAAT) conducted research and public awareness activities to help communities in their demands against pollution coming from the ECOLTEC plant (a waste facility that produced fuel for cement kilns) in Mexico. ECOLTEC declared in an Environmental Impact Assessment that they would produce Volatile Organic Compounds, and the standard for cement kilns includes a series of dangerous heavy metals.
Awareness among legislators, rural workers, and the general public on phase-out of highly hazardous pesticides
Alianza por una Mejor Calidad de Vida organized a series of workshops and staged a media campaign with a national TV network to create public awareness about the dangers of pesticides in food. This included developing brochures tailored to the communities most affected by the use hazardous pesticides. An expose of pesticide poisoning cases of rural and seasonal female workers was also shared with the public. In addition, they worked closely with a prominent member of the National Congress to introduce legislation that would phase out the most hazardous and highly toxic pesticides.