Physical Verification and Study of Contamination in and Around an Abandoned DDT Factory in ...

48 Pages·2007·1.3 MB·English

International POPs Elimination Project
Fostering Active and Efficient Civil Society Participation in
Preparation for Implementation of the Stockholm Convention

Physical Verification and Study of
Contamination in and Around an Abandoned
DDT Factory in North West Frontier Province
(NWFP) Pakistan

Dr. Mahmood A. Khwaja
Sustainable Development Policy Institute

Dr. M. Rasul Jan and Kashif Gul
Institute of Chemical Sciences, Peshawar University

Pakistan
May 2006
About the International POPs Elimination Project

On May 1, 2004, the International POPs Elimination Network (IPEN
http://www.ipen.org) began a global NGO project called the International POPs
Elimination Project (IPEP) in partnership with the United Nations Industrial
Development Organization (UNIDO) and the United Nations Environment Program
(UNEP). The Global Environment Facility (GEF) provided core funding for the project.

IPEP has three principal objectives:

• Encourage and enable NGOs in 40 developing and transitional countries to
engage in activities that provide concrete and immediate contributions to
country efforts in preparing for the implementation of the Stockholm
Convention;

• Enhance the skills and knowledge of NGOs to help build their capacity as
effective stakeholders in the Convention implementation process;

• Help establish regional and national NGO coordination and capacity in all
regions of the world in support of longer term efforts to achieve chemical
safety.

IPEP will support preparation of reports on country situation, hotspots, policy briefs, and
regional activities. Three principal types of activities will be supported by IPEP:
participation in the National Implementation Plan, training and awareness workshops,
and public information and awareness campaigns.

For more information, please see http://www.ipen.org

IPEN gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the Global Environment Facility,
Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, Swiss Agency for the Environment
Forests and Landscape, the Canada POPs Fund, the Dutch Ministry of Housing, Spatial
Planning and the Environment (VROM), Mitchell Kapor Foundation, Sigrid Rausing
Trust, New York Community Trust and others.

The views expressed in this report are those of the authors and not necessarily the views
of the institutions providing management and/or financial support.

This report is available in the following languages: English

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Table of Contents

About the International POPs Elimination Project......................................................2
1. Introduction.................................................................................................................6
1.1 DichloroDiphenylTrichloroethane (DDT)......................................................7
1.2 Stockholm Convention On Persistent Organic Pollutants..............................8
1.3 `Pesticides in NWFP, Pakistan.......................................................................8
1.4 DDT Levels in Environmental Samples - NWFP...........................................9
2. Aims and Objectives.................................................................................................10
3. Study Site Location...................................................................................................11
4. Site Survey, Field Visits and Meetings with Ex-Employees of Nowshera DDT
Factory..........................................................................................................................12
5. Experimental Details.................................................................................................14
5.1 Sampling.......................................................................................................14
5.2 Soil Samples..................................................................................................14
5.3 Water Samples..............................................................................................15
5.4 Samples Preparation and Extraction.............................................................16
5.5 Analyses of Soil and Water Samples............................................................17
6. Results and Discussion.............................................................................................18
7. Demolition of DDT Factory, Nowshera...................................................................23
8. Recommendations.....................................................................................................24
9. Dissemination of Research Findings........................................................................25
9.1 Panel Discussion...........................................................................................25
9.2 Press Release.................................................................................................25
9.3 Paper Presentation – 9th National Symposium on Analytical and
Environmental Chemistry.........................................................................................25
9.4 Awareness-Raising Workshop......................................................................26
References.....................................................................................................................27
Annex I: Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants 2001.....................29
Annex II: History of Pesticide Use in Pakistan............................................................32
Annex III: Consumption of Pesticides in Pakistan.......................................................33
Annex IV: List of Banned Pesticides in Pakistan.........................................................34
Annex V: List of Stakeholders and Ex-Employees DDT Factory, Nowshera..............35
Annex VI: DDT – Factory Nowshera – General Particulars........................................37
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Annex VII: Processes for Soil Decontamination and Reclamation..............................42
Annex VIII: Institution’s Profile...................................................................................45
VIII.1 Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI)....................................45
VIII.2 Institute of Chemical Sciences (ICS), Peshawar University.....................46
Annex IX: Media Reports.............................................................................................47
Acronyms......................................................................................................................48

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Physical Verification and Study of Contamination in and
Around an Abandoned DDT Factory in North West
Frontier Province (NWFP) Pakistan

Executive Summary

DDT (Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) belongs to one of the most hazardous groups of
chemicals called Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), also known as “The Dirty Dozen.”
These very toxic chemicals, including DDT are long lasting due to their non-
degradability, can travel to distant places and being fat soluble accumulate in animals and
human bodies. Even in extremely small amounts, POPs cause adverse impacts on human
health and environment. To save public health, specially the health of the children, the
manufacturing and use of POPs have been banned in the world under the Stockholm
Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), enacted in 2001. A number of
national governments including Pakistan have signed the Stockholm Convention and so
far also ratified by over 120 countries.

Due to the persistent nature of DDT and its adverse environmental and health impacts,
the present study was undertaken to examine the residual DDT in and around a DDT
manufacturing factory in Amman Gharh, Nowshera, NWFP. The present study is one of
many activities carried out under the International POPs Elimination Project (IPEP) in
eight regions of the world, including South Asia and supervised by the International
POPs Elimination Network (IPEN).

The factory was established in 1963 and remained in operation until 1994. The project
team visited the factory site several times to carry out the survey, held meetings with the
ex-employees of the abandoned factory and other stakeholders and for taking soil and
water samples for chemical examination. Composite samples of soil, sediments and water
were collected in and around the factory area, nearby DDT stores, the main factory drain
leading to the river Kabul and nearby villages. Standard procedures were used for the
collection, transportation and storage of samples for analyses. Physical parameters of the
collected water samples measured were temperature, pH and conductance. Extraction of
each sample for DDT analyses was carried out in triplicate using Soxhlet extraction
apparatus. The extract was transferred to a well washed, clean, dry glass vial, sealed and
put in the refrigerator. Gas chromatography with electron capture detector and capillary
column was used for analysis. DDT in the samples was identified on the basis of
retention time and quantified on the basis of peak areas.

Soil samples from within the factory formulation unit showed residual DDT in the range
242.28+/- 0.81 to 573.02 +/- 0.94 µg/gm. DDT levels in the soil samples at different
points outside the factory compound were found to be in the range 558.35+/-0.71 to
780.40+/-0.54 µg/gm. In the drain samples DDT levels were found in the range 388.57+/-
0.48 to 1631.70+/-0.61 µg/gm. The highest DDT levels of 2822.08+/-0.88 and
2841.45+/-0.95 µg/gm were found in samples from the left-over old bags in the
formulation unit and in the stores. Soil samples taken from five yards outside the stores
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showed 1631.70+/- 0.61 µg/gm residual DDT. However, DDT was not detected in the
soil samples taken from Azakhel, ten kilometer away from DDT factory. Residual DDT
levels in water samples from within the vicinity of DDT factory, nearby villages and
drain leading to the river Kabul showed little variation, most of the samples falling in the
range 0.20+/-0.23 to 0.31+/-0.03 µg/ml. Highest and lowest DDT levels were found to be
0.40+/-0.14 and 0.07+/-0.10, respectively.

It is evident from the analytical data obtained by the present study that both water and
soil in and around the factory area are still contaminated with DDT, despite the closure of
the factory twelve years ago. In view of the well-established and known persistency,
transportation, accumulative characteristics, environmental and health impacts of DDT,
its contamination in and around the factory area pose a threat to public health and
environment and may have the most serious consequences to ecosystem function, food
safety and other aspects of human health, very specially in Amman Gharh/Nowshera.

The abandoned DDT factory was there for over 12 years and nobody was interested
either in using, selling or buying it. However, on the last field visit to the DDT factory
site, the project team was most surprised to see the factory almost demolished. It seems
that a quick deal was struck by the owner(s), following the IPEP project team’s frequent
visits to the site and the on-going interview/meetings with the city officials/stakeholders
and ex-employees of the factory.

Whereas the health of the laborers working to demolish the factory and the spread of
DDT-contaminated bricks/construction material due to its transportation and further use
in different near and far off localities are of grave concerns, even more so is the likely
sale of the land of the factory (after all the construction material is sold and cleared away)
and its further use (as commercial or residential area for housing, school, playground,
park etc). The area/soil may remain contaminated with DDT for quite some time and it is
strongly recommended that the land of the factory may not be sold or put to any use
without prior approval of the environmental impact assessment (EIA) of the DDT factory
site by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

It is also recommended that the factory area be declared a danger area and banned for any
human activities. A barrier/wall may be constructed around the factory area to prevent the
entrance of children, wild animals, cattle, and chickens, etc.

Details of the above study, results achieved and recommendations made for control
measures and remediation of the DDT contaminated land in and around DDT factory,
Nowshera are described and discussed in the following pages of this report.

1. Introduction

Persistent organic pollutants, including dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), have
become a vital issue to mankind due to their hazardous nature. These chemicals, often
called “Dirty Dozen” do not degrade readily and can travel thousands of miles away from
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their source. Persistent organic pollutants, more commonly known as POPs are chemical
compounds or mixtures that include industrial chemicals, pesticides and some industrial
wastes. These are named “persistent” because these do not degrade in the environment by
physical, chemical or biological processes. Out of many POPs twelve are regarded as
most dangerous to human health and environment and are called the “Dirty Dozen.”
Among these twelve compounds eight are pesticides DDT, aldrin, dieldrin, endrin,
chlordane, heptachlor, mirex and toxaphene, two industrial chemicals PCB
(polychlorinated biphenyls) and HCB (hexachlorobenzene) and two industrial waste
products dioxins and furans.

Some common properties, which make the POPs group of chemicals very dangerous, are
their persistent nature in the environment. POPs released in the environment can travel
through water and air to regions (such as the Arctic) distant from their original sources.
POPs are semi-volatile and do not readily dissolve in water but concentrate in plants,
animals and also in humans. Even in extremely small amounts POPs can injure human
health and health of other organisms.

Wildlife and humans can come in contact with POPs through breathing contaminated air,
by eating contaminated foods or by drinking or washing in contaminated water. Fetus and
unborn babies in the womb are dangerously affected through absorption of these
accumulated chemicals in the fats of their parents’ bodies. Traces of POPs contamination
have been found to be present in the food web, in animal products – meat, fish and milk
in particular, with significant hazards to predators who consume these foods, such as
dolphins, polar bears, herring gulls and people.

1.1 Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT)

1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis-(p-chlorophenyl) ethane, commonly known as DDT or Zeidane is
an organochlorine-based pesticide. Sold under different formulator’s trade names such as
Anofex, Dedela, Zerdane, Rukseam etc., it first appeared for use during World War II to
control insects that spread diseases like malaria, dengue fever and typhus. Following this,
it was widely used on a variety of agriculture crops. DDT is one of the earliest and most
well known pesticides. Because of its widespread use, DDT can now be detected
everywhere in the world from the Antarctic ice to our own bodies (2). DDT has been
shown to have an estrogen-like activity and possible carcinogenic activity in humans.
Although banned in many countries since 1972, DDT continues to be used for indoor
residual spraying in a significant number of countries and for agricultural uses in some
areas as well (3).Because of its effectiveness at killing insects, especially mosquitoes
which cause malaria (a continuing threat to human health), the World Health
Organization (WHO), while supporting its ultimate phase out, continues to endorse its
limited use (4)

Even in extremely small amounts DDT can injure human health and the health of other
organisms. Fetus and unborn babies in the womb are dangerously affected through
absorption of the accumulated DDT in the fats of their parent’s bodies. Traces of DDT
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contaminations have been found to be present in the food web, in animal products such as
meat, fish and milk in particular, with significant hazard to those who consume these
foods. DDT can injure human health and ecosystem thousands of kilometers from its
source and cause even greater injury in and near source areas. It is harmful to the
stomach, intestines, liver and kidneys and can affect the nervous system and cause
reproductive, developmental defects and cancer and tumors. Women, children and infants
are especially vulnerable to certain effects of DDT.

1.2 Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants

For the protection of human health and environment, the Stockholm Convention on POPs
was completed on May 22, 2001. This global convention deals with the twelve most
hazardous persistent organic pollutants, including DDT which pose major and increasing
threats to health and environment. So far, 151 countries have signed the convention and
122 countries have ratified it (6). Pakistan signed the Stockholm Convention on
Persistent Organic Pollutants on December 6, 2001and the ratification of it is under active
consideration by the government of Pakistan. The convention entered into force on May
17, 2004.

Article 3 of the Convention (7) on POPs describes the measures to reduce or eliminate
releases from intentional production and use of POPs and states that each state shall (a)
prohibit and /or take the legal measures necessary to eliminate (i) production and use of
the chemicals listed in Annex A (which includes 8 pesticides and polychlorinated
biphenyls, PCBs) and (ii) their import and export. This includes specific measures to
reduce/eliminate DDT under Annex B, binding each state to eliminate the use and
production of DDT except for parties that have notified the secretariat of “Restricted”
production and/or use for disease vector control in accordance with the WHO
recommendations and guidelines (7). Details regarding restricted use and production of
DDT under the Stockholm Convention are described in Annex I.

1.3 `Pesticides in NWFP, Pakistan

Agricultural pesticide usage in Pakistan increased from 665 tons in 1980 to over 69,897
tons in 2002 (over 100-fold). The history of pesticides use and their consumption in
Pakistan are briefly summarized in Annexes II and III.

In the recent past, thousands of tons of pesticides were imported from Europe and the
USA for use in agriculture and public health sectors. The shift in Government policy of
pesticides business in the country from public to private sector resulted in huge dumps of
obsolete pesticides. According to some reported inventories and surveys the quantity of
expired pesticides is estimated above 5000 tons in Pakistan. In NWFP, the quantity of
expired pesticides has been estimated to be 179 tons. GTZ and the Government of
Netherlands had supported activities for the disposal of some of the outdated POPs
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pesticides from NWFP (5). However, some of these locations are still hotspots from the
human health and environmental point of view.

POPs pesticides aldrin, chlordane and mirex have never been registered in Pakistan.
Dieldrin was deregistered in 1983, toxaphene and DDT in 1992, endrin and BHC
(Lindane) in 1996 while heptachlor was deregistered in 1997. A list of banned pesticides
in the country is given in Annex IV.

Pakistan has never been a manufacturer of any pesticides except DDT and BHC
(Lindane).

1.4 DDT Levels in Environmental Samples - NWFP

According to reported survey data by Hadi (8), dieldrin, heptachlor and endrin have been
used from 1981 – 1985 in Peshawar, Nowshera and Charsadda districts. In a survey of
another district in NWFP, D.I. Khan revealed the availability of smuggled DDT pesticide
formulations in the open market under the brand names Methyl, Dusting Powder and 785
containing 15, 5 – 15 and 100 percent DDT, respectively (8).

Ahad and Mohammad (9) have reported the results of chemical analyses of nineteen
samples of soil and water from the vicinity of POPs stores in NWFP. All of the five soil
and thirteen water samples studied were found to be contaminated with varying levels of
residual pesticides However, pesticides levels for water samples were found to be within
the maximum permissible concentration (MAC) set by European Union (9).

Studies on POPs levels in free-range chicken eggs in Peshawar have been reported by
Khwaja and Petrlik (10, 11). Whereas, levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs),
hexachlorobenzene (HCB), dioxins (PCDDs) and furans (PCDFs) were within European
Union prescribed limits, high levels of DDT were found in the egg samples, with the
measured sum equal to 2329.30 ng/g of egg fat. This DDT level in the eggs sampled near
a Peshawar waste dumpsite is four and a half times higher than the EU limit for the sum
of DDT in eggs (EU limit = 500 ng/g of egg fat).

Recently, studies on POPs emissions from hospital incinerators in Peshawar, Islamabad,
Lahore and brick kilns have also been carried out and reported (19).

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2. Aims and Objectives

Nowshera DDT factory was established in 1963 in Amangarh (Nowshera) near Peshawar,
NWFP. Since 1994 the manufacturing and use of 21 pesticides, including DDT, have
been banned in Pakistan and the DDT Factory, Nowshera was also closed down.

However, the factory was in operation for many years and it is being learnt that a few
thousand kilograms of the chemicals are still in the storehouses. It is now well established
that DDT if released to the environment is very dangerous because of its persistent and
toxic nature. Women, children and infants are especially vulnerable to certain effects of
DDT. In view of the persistent nature and serious concerns with regard to the adverse
environmental and health impacts of DDT and other POPs all over the world, there was a
need to undertake physical verification of Nowshera DDT factory and examine the
environmental and health impacts caused by its operation over the years.

Under this IPEP activity physical verification of Nowshera DDT factory was to be
undertaken as well as the environmental and health impacts caused by its operation over
the years examined. The project activities included physical verification of the DDT
factory site, warehouse(s) and quantification of DDT, examination of the contaminated
soil and water (bore-well, tube-well, any other water source) in the area and examination
of blood for DDT levels of the nearby sample population especially children. The study
would thus enable raising public awareness about POPs and the Stockholm Convention
on POPs and draw the government’s attention to taking, at the earliest, necessary
remedial measures for cleaning it up. It would also enhance the public role of support
towards national implementation plan for the Stockholm Convention and its ratification
by the government of Pakistan.
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