To confront and solve the rampant contamination of highly toxic pesticides in the environment and the health of those living in the Davao del Sur area of the Phillipines, Pesticide Action Network (PAN) enacted a multi-pronged education and awareness campaign with farmers, the public, business leaders, members of the media, and government officials.
The EDEN Center conducted a ground-breaking assessment of the area around an abandoned battery plant to test for lead contamination. After a series of stakeholder meetings and workshops, residents of Uznova (Municipality of Berat) agreed to answer questions about lead exposure and give blood samples for testing. Air, soil, and water were also tested. A report with the findings of the assessment (and recommendations) was delivered to government agencies, shared with the community, and distributed through the media.
The districts located in the Syrdaryinskaya oblast contain numerous obsolete pesticide burial sites. Although officials maintain the safety of these burial sites, ARMON's independent assessment showed that these sites are leaking pesticides into the air and ground water, are not properly safeguarded against the theft of pesticides, and appear to be a major cause of adverse health impacts in the surrounding communities. In addition, ARMON identified several burial sites not accounted for by official government records, also leaking pesticides.
The Chapaevsk Medical Association tested 21 food samples from three Russian cities for levels of BPA, determining that 81% of the samples were contaminated. Canned infant food was found to have some of the highest levels of contamination. Results were shared at several seminars and workshops with physicians, chemists, government officials, industry leaders, and other NGOs.
Pesticide Action Network (PAN) Philippines, in collaboration with Community Based Health Services (CBHS) Mindanao, conducted several capacity-building activities with peasant groups, farmers and residents of Surigao del Sur and Agusan del Sur, agricultural areas heavily impacted by the use of hazardous pesticides. These included focus groups, key informant interviews, and information dissemination about the dangers of pesticides and alternatives to pesticide use (such as IPM) available to them.
In collaboration with medical officials, Center for Environmental Justice (CEJ) organized medical clinics to pre-screen agricultural workers at risk for kidney disease resulting from exposure to arsenic in pesticides. In several of these clinics (as well as outside of the clinics), CEJ conducted small discussion groups at which farmers were given brochures highlighting the dangers of illegal and highly dangerous pesticides and notifying them of their rights.
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.
