Dr. Jindrich Petrlik, Arnika Association, Prague , Czech Republic .
Key Words: Chicken eggs, persistent organic pollutants, POPs , Pakistan
Chemicals such as dioxins, furans, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and hexachlorobenzene (HCB) are highly toxic substances that can seriously harm human health and the environment. These are members of a group of chemicals called persistent organic pollutants (POPs), also known as “Dirty Dozen.” Traces of POPs contaminations have been found to be present in the food web, in animal products - meat, fish and milk in particular, with significant hazard to people who consume these foods. A recent study of free range chicken eggs from 20 localities in 17 countries (including Pakistan ) on the five continents has indicated high levels of contamination of egg samples with dioxins and PCBs. The selected localities were mostly nearby incinerators, chemical industries and waste dumps. The study focused on sites in developing countries and countries with economies in transition, since POPs data in these countries is often lacking. Chicken eggs were chosen for this global study because they are a common food item and their fat content makes them appropriate for monitoring fat-soluble chemical pollutants like POPs. The study focused on backyard and free-range hens because they eat worms, insects and other small organisms, making their eggs a useful bio-indicator of food contamination and environmental pollution.
In Pakistan , the study was jointly carried out by Arnika association of Czech Republic and Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), Pakistan . The free-range chicken egg samples were collected from the households nearby the old abandoned municipal and hospital waste dumpsite, along Charsadda road, on the outskirts of Peshawar city in North West Frontier Province (NWFP). The site was in use for over ten years before being abandoned in 2004. Beside, open burning of all sorts of wastes at the site from time to time, municipal and hospital wastes, including ash/residue from local hospitals incinerators were dumped in the open at the site without any pre-treatment, ground insulation or cover on the site.
Standard methods were employed for chemical analyses and eggs sampling at the site, their transportation and storage. Chemical analyses for POPs contents in the sampled eggs were carried out using HR GC-MS on Autospec Ultima NT in the Axys Varilab laboratory, Czech Republic .
The analytical data obtained from this study indicated the presence of dioxins/furans (PCDD/Fs), PCBs, HCB and DDT chemicals in the egg samples collected from the households nearby the dumpsite in the outskirts of Peshawar city. The level of PCDD/Fs (2.85- 2.91WHO-TEQ pg/g of egg fat) was found to be close to the limit(3.0 WHO-TEQ pg/g) set by the EU. However, these observed levels are much higher compared to the eggs samples from Australia , North America and some European countries. Eggs samples from similar waste dump sites in Kenya and Senegal showed much higher levels of 22.92 and 35.10 WHO-TEQ pg/g, respectively. Some of the highest dioxin levels (44 – 126 pg/g(WHO-TEQ) of fat were found to be in egg samples collected from metallurgical (Egypt), thermal power plant (Bulgaria) and chlor-alkali (Russia) sites.
PCBs & HCB pollutants levels (0.80 WHO-TEQ pg/g and 1.1 ng/g egg fat, respectively) in eggs samples from the dumpsite in Peshawar were found to be lower than Czech Republic (5.0 WHO-TEQ pg/g and EU (200 ng/g) limits. However, high levels of DDT were found in the egg samples, with measured sum equal to 2329.30 ng/g of egg fat. This DDT level in the eggs samples nearby Peshawar dumpsite is four and a half time higher than the EU limit for the sum of DDT in eggs (EU limit = 500 ng/g of egg fat).
The above study represents the first report of dioxins/furans in chicken eggs or any other food item in general in Pakistan . These results, indicating the presence of POPs, especially high level of PCDD/Fs & DDT in the samples of chicken eggs from nearby the dumpsite on the outskirts of Peshawar are most alarming. Even in very small dozes, POPs are known to cause serious health problems such as cancer, reduced immunity, nervous system disorder, miscarriages, birth deformity & child development. We are exposed to these deadly chemicals due to their presence in our environment, into which they enter because of their use as pesticides (DDT), as industrial chemicals (PCBs, HCB) or as unwanted by-products (PCDD/Fs) of combustion or chemical processes.
The Stockholm Convention 2001 on persistent organic pollutants (POPs) is the first global, legally binding instrument whose aim is to protect human health and the environment by controlling production, use and disposal of POPs. Pakistan signed the convention on December 6, 2001 but has still to ratify. An early ratification of the convention would enable Pakistan ’s participation in conference of the parties (COP) on the Convention and eligible for financial support and technical assistance towards identification, safe collection, transportation and disposal of the existing obsolete POPs stockpiles, leading to reduction and gradual phase out of POPs in the country.
Very little data on environmental health impacts due to exposure to chemicals, especially POPs is available in the country and there is a dire need to initiate monitoring projects focused on addressing POPs sources as well as their levels in all segments of the environment.
Stringent limits for POPs releases and levels in wastes ought to be introduced both in the international and national legislations..
Dr. Mahmood A. Khwaja
Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI)
P.O. Box 2342 , Islamabad , Pakistan .
Tel: 051 2278134 Off.) 051 2853634 (R)
Fax: 051 2278135;
e-mail: khwaja@sdpi.org;
web : www.sdpi.org
And
Dr. Jindrich Petrlik
Arnika Association, Prague , Czech Republic .
Key Words: Chicken eggs, persistent organic pollutants, POPs , Pakistan
Chemicals such as dioxins, furans, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and hexachlorobenzene (HCB) are highly toxic substances that can seriously harm human health and the environment. These are members of a group of chemicals called persistent organic pollutants (POPs), also known as “Dirty Dozen.” Traces of POPs contaminations have been found to be present in the food web, in animal products - meat, fish and milk in particular, with significant hazard to people who consume these foods. A recent study of free range chicken eggs from 20 localities in 17 countries (including Pakistan ) on the five continents has indicated high levels of contamination of egg samples with dioxins and PCBs. The selected localities were mostly nearby incinerators, chemical industries and waste dumps. The study focused on sites in developing countries and countries with economies in transition, since POPs data in these countries is often lacking. Chicken eggs were chosen for this global study because they are a common food item and their fat content makes them appropriate for monitoring fat-soluble chemical pollutants like POPs. The study focused on backyard and free-range hens because they eat worms, insects and other small organisms, making their eggs a useful bio-indicator of food contamination and environmental pollution.
In Pakistan , the study was jointly carried out by Arnika association of Czech Republic and
Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), Pakistan . The free-range chicken egg samples were collected from the households nearby the old abandoned municipal and hospital waste dumpsite, along Charsadda road, on the outskirts of Peshawar city in North West Frontier Province (NWFP). The site was in use for over ten years before being abandoned in 2004. Beside, open burning of all sorts of wastes at the site from time to time, municipal and hospital wastes, including ash/residue from local hospitals incinerators were dumped in the open at the site without any pre-treatment, ground insulation or cover on the site.
Standard methods were employed for chemical analyses and eggs sampling at the site, their transportation and storage. Chemical analyses for POPs contents in the sampled eggs were carried out using HR GC-MS on Autospec Ultima NT in the Axys Varilab laboratory, Czech Republic .
The analytical data obtained from this study indicated the presence of dioxins/furans (PCDD/Fs), PCBs, HCB and DDT chemicals in the egg samples collected from the households nearby the dumpsite in the outskirts of Peshawar city. The level of PCDD/Fs (2.85- 2.91WHO-TEQ pg/g of egg fat) was found to be close to the limit(3.0 WHO-TEQ pg/g) set by the EU. However, these observed levels are much higher compared to the eggs samples from Australia , North America and some European countries. Eggs samples from similar waste dump sites in Kenya and Senegal showed much higher levels of 22.92 and 35.10 WHO-TEQ pg/g, respectively. Some of the highest dioxin levels (44 – 126 pg/g(WHO-TEQ) of fat were found to be in egg samples collected from metallurgical (Egypt), thermal power plant (Bulgaria) and chlor-alkali (Russia) sites.
PCBs & HCB pollutants levels (0.80 WHO-TEQ pg/g and 1.1 ng/g egg fat, respectively) in eggs samples from the dumpsite in Peshawar were found to be lower than Czech Republic (5.0 WHO-TEQ pg/g and EU (200 ng/g) limits. However, high levels of DDT were found in the egg samples, with measured sum equal to 2329.30 ng/g of egg fat. This DDT level in the eggs samples nearby Peshawar dumpsite is four and a half time higher than the EU limit for the sum of DDT in eggs (EU limit = 500 ng/g of egg fat).
The above study represents the first report of dioxins/furans in chicken eggs or any other food item in general in Pakistan . These results, indicating the presence of POPs, especially high level of PCDD/Fs & DDT in the samples of chicken eggs from nearby the dumpsite on the outskirts of Peshawar are most alarming. Even in very small dozes, POPs are known to cause serious health problems such as cancer, reduced immunity, nervous system disorder, miscarriages, birth deformity & child development. We are exposed to these deadly chemicals due to their presence in our environment, into which they enter because of their use as pesticides (DDT), as industrial chemicals (PCBs, HCB) or as unwanted by-products (PCDD/Fs) of combustion or chemical processes.
The Stockholm Convention 2001 on persistent organic pollutants (POPs) is the first global, legally binding instrument whose aim is to protect human health and the environment by controlling production, use and disposal of POPs. Pakistan signed the convention on December 6, 2001 but has still to ratify. An early ratification of the convention would enable Pakistan ’s participation in conference of the parties (COP) on the Convention and eligible for financial support and technical assistance towards identification, safe collection, transportation and disposal of the existing obsolete POPs stockpiles, leading to reduction and gradual phase out of POPs in the country.
Very little data on environmental health impacts due to exposure to chemicals, especially POPs is available in the country and there is a dire need to initiate monitoring projects focused on addressing POPs sources as well as their levels in all segments of the environment.
Stringent limits for POPs releases and levels in wastes ought to be introduced both in the international and national legislations..
Dr. Mahmood A. Khwaja
Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI)
P.O. Box 2342 , Islamabad , Pakistan .
Tel: 051 2278134 Off.) 051 2853634 (R)
Fax: 051 2278135;
e-mail: khwaja@sdpi.org;
web : www.sdpi.org
Information for Financial Assistance
Legal Residence Address: House number 19, Street 19, G-8/1, Islamabad . Pakistan .
Birth Date (mm/dd/yy): 11/14/1943
City/Country of Birth: Peshawar . Pakistan
Home Phone: 0092 51 2853634
Financial support requested: Airfare, accommodation, per diem & registration fee.