DANDORA DUMPSITEby | 11-04-2016 14:46 |
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The Dandora dump site is an uncontrolled dumping site that contains very many hazardous materials. The dump lies 5 miles from the city center. It's located on the east of Nairobi, the Kenyan capital city. Sitting on approximately 30 acres of land and receiving garbage of over 2000 tonnes dumped on the site daily. The type of garbage include industrial, agricultural and hospital waste. The Dandora dump site is dangerous as heavy metals such as mercury, lead and organic pollutants such as DDT and PCBs intoxicates the air and gets into the soil in the area. Medical wastes such as used syringes are also dumped in Dandora. A study conducted by the United Nations on more than 300 schoolchildren around Dandora showed that 50% of them experienced respiratory problems. 30% of the schoolchildren showed blood abnormalities that indicated heavy-metal poisoning. In summary, the dump site is one of the most outright violations of human rights in Kenya. The dump site is a source of life, illness and death. The rubbish pollutes the soil, water and air hence affecting 200,000 people. Workers on the site are exposed to hazardous conditions and are affected by anaemia, cancer, kidney problems and frequent miscarriages. |
