African pesticide stockpiles
2004
This paper, compiled by the Africa Stockpiles Programme, reports on the present situation in Africa with regards to stockpiles of pesticide, as well as the related health conditions posed by unused pesticide.The paper highlights the severity of the current situation in Africa:at least 50,000 tonnes of obsolete pesticides, as well as tens of thousands of tonnes of contaminated soil, have accumulated in African countriesthese pesticides pose serious threats to the health of both rural and urban populations, especially the poorest of the poor, contributing to land and water degradationAfrican people and wildlife are being exposed to dangerous chemicals through food, air, and watermany of the pesticide chemicals and their containers are in poor condition and threaten local and regional environments through the contamination of soil, water, food and airin poor communities dangers of pesticide stockpiles are compounded by a range of factors such as unsafe water supplies and working conditions, illiteracy, and lack of political empowermentThe report urges the urgent cleanup of stockpiles of obsolete pesticides and associated waste and the prevention of further accumulation in African countries via a coordinated, multi-stakeholder programme.[adapted from author]
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