Ecological Situation in Central Asia
Environmental News Agency "Greenwomen"
15.11.2004 |Annemarie Mohr
Environmental News Agency "Greenwomen"
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by: Lydia Astanina
Ecological Situation in Central Asia
A thirteen years old boy whose eyes were as deep black as the locally grown grapes was struggling to remember five new English words. He was fighting to remember them for the third lesson in a row. Private lessons paid for by his parents do not help much since the boy has very poor memory.- This is the third case of this kind I am dealing with, - says the boy's English language teacher. – Contemporary children have very poor memory hindering their ability to study foreign languages… By the way, the other two children are also from Semipalatinsk.
This may be a coincidence that children born in a region where Soviet Union tested its nuclear weapons do not have particularly agile memory. Or, maybe, it is not.
In June 2000 Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, hosted the third Nation-wide scientific conference entitled «Ecology and children's health». The event was dedicated to addressing issues related to health conditions of women and children living in Kazakhstan, particularly in ecologically disadvantaged regions. Here are some of the facts presented at the conference.
Children of Semipalatinsk
Experts assessed environmental impacts on health conditions of children living in Semipalatinsk. For research purposes the city can be divided into two zones: A zone – more central and well-off; B zone – home to the city's silicate, concrete and other plants, parts of Irtysh river where industrial wastes are dumped, as well as multiple heat-generation facilities. The city's major polluters include: CJSC Zement, Suuk-Bulak mine, Kazakhstan's National Nuclear Center Radiation Security and Ecology Institute, divisions of AES Semipalatinsk TETS Ltd., JSC Silicate, Helfiz Ltd., JSC Andas-Altyn. Some of these enterprises have been working for more than 20 years without any permissions authorizing discharge of harmful substances. Out of the city's 177 heat-generation facilities only 77 have dust collectors. In the meanwhile, in 1999 seven major industrial enterprises discharged 16.2 thousand tones of wastes. Atmospheric air pollution caused by motor vehicles constitutes more than 50% of all emissions. Currently this ever-growing threat to the city's atmosphere is almost totally out of control. In 1998-1999 calibrating explosions took place in Degelen mountain range mines to support nuclear weapons infrastructure destruction and seismic equipment calibration. Several industrial enterprises have radioactive sources of ionizing radiation.
In areas of Irtysh river basin targeted for industrial and Semiplatinsk liquid household wastes discharge, water quality is deteriorating and is currently classified as class 4 – polluted waters. In 1999 approximate discharge volumes were expected to amount to 13.6 million cubic meters. In reality 17.56 million cubic meters were dumped (in 1998 – 14.5 million cubic meters). 1998-1999 research indicated an increase in the number of respiratory organs disease cases among children: 34,117 cases registered in 1999. Pneumonia was diagnosed in 745 cases (575 cases registered in 1998). The number of children diagnosed with asthma doubled (22 cases as opposed to 11 a year earlier). The number of chronic bronchitis cases skyrocketed to 215 in 1999 from 31 in 1998. The number of allergic riniths patients increased 4.5 times (from 138 to 627), while obstructive respiratory organs diseases were diagnosed in 27 cases as opposed to 18 in 1998.
The same correlation holds for infectious and parasites-related diseases, blood diseases (1287 in 1999 up from 1266 in 1998), skin diseases (4301 up from 4108), reproductive system diseases (1828 in 1999 up from 1094 in 1998). Obviously there is a direct correlation between Semipalatinsk region pollution and diseases among the region's children. Health risks caused by ionizing radiation become particularly relevant for Semipalatinsk region. Nuclear tests brought massive areas to the brink of catastrpohy. The Semipalatinsk nuclear testing range operated in a densly populated area posing a major threat to all inhabitants. On the other hand the tragic impact of the nuclear testing range subjecting people to small and large dozes of radiation created an opportunity for assessment of long-term radiation impacts on public health. Some of the most serious long-term ionizing radiation impacts include development of cancerous tumors. Analysis of documentation accumulated in Semipalatinsk region in 1957-1997 indicates major increases in child mortality rates resulting from cancerous blood diseases. There were two child mortality rate peaks: the first one took place in 1965-73 (8.5 per 100 thousand children), the second one dates back to 1983-88 (7.7). The second peak corresponds to the second generation of children who felt the radiation impact of surface tests. Studies detect high probability of developmental deficiencies at birth (for example, Down syndrome).
The number of children with disabilities is growing
All over the world the number of children with developmental disabilities and cerebral pathologies is increasing. Back in 1990 World Health organization reported that up to 70% of infant deaths were related to cerebral pathologies. In Saint-Petersburg the number of children born with cerebral pathologies approaches 40%. Currently up to 50% of children can not effectively master grade school curriculum. Consequently, issues of brain development disabilities have shifted from the scientific and clinical dimension to the social one. In Kazakhstan the number of people with disabilities is great and it is constantly increasing. Out of 10 children at least one is born with major physical or mental disabilities. One fifth of all children requires social adaptation and pedagogical correction. People are dissatisfied with the quality of medical and social care provided to these children. However, the society in general and medical institutions in particular do not fully grasp and understand causes leading to constant deterioration of the situation.
It is an established fact that health conditions depend on environmental factors. Currently various teratogenes and mutagenes are constant elements of our biosphere. World Health Organization estimates that worldwide inherited or at-birth pathologies cause 20% of child diseases and 15-20% of child deaths. Those children with inherited pathologies or the ones developed before birth who survive through the infancy stage are usually prone to mental retardation, cerebral palsy, hearing or visual impairments, pathologies impacting motor skills.
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In accordance with the data presented in the National environmental protection action plan for sustainable development published in July 1997 in Almaty across the nation there are no environmental components that can be characterized as normal. In addition to the natural mutations level there are other adverse factors: physical (internal and external radiation, high and low temperatures, magnetic and ultraviolate radiation, vibrations etc.); chemical (industrial wastes and wastes resulting from military industrial complex operations, emissions caused by spacecraft launches, agricultural wastes, motor vehicle pollution, chemical products, medicines, nicotine, alcohol, drugs). A study involving multiple factors allowed to define their impacts on brain development deficiencies and establish that the factor type does not determine the type of brain development pathology. Duration of the impact, combination of adverse factors and their magnitude determine severity level of a brain or nervous system pathology. If the harmful agent's impact coincides with critical periods, such as 21-24-29-32-40 weeks for the frontal brain core zones, the consequences may be particularly disastrous leading to the fetus or infant death. In less severe cases this may result in various types of developmental disabilities. Destructive impact on the brain may be so severe that the actual act of birth will serve as a distress for the infant. There is an array of factors leading to development and greater severity of developmental deficiencies among children and child mortality. Overall these factors may be defined as a result of several generations living in «the destroyed environment» under greater social and economic pressures.
Chlorine in breast milk
Health impact is determined by the doze and magnitude of organic chemical substances such as dioxins and furans, polychlorinated biphenyl’s and chlorine organic pesticides.
People consuming contaminated fish, meat and diary products accumulate these substances in liver tissues. A breast-feeding mother's liver tissues containing chlorine components accumulated since early childhood years lead to appearance of chlorine in breast milk. Pollutants containing chlorine in breast milk are extremely dangerous for children.
A study involved more than 100 samples of breast milk and other early childhood food products (milk, fish) as well as soil samples taken in Almaty, Kzyl-Orda, Aralsk, Shymkent and in Jetysai and Kirov regions. In all samples average concentrations of cancerous dioxins were higher than in Eastern European equivalents. In certain samples particularly high THDD concentrations were typical of Jetysai region exceeding maximum concentration limits by more than 8 times, in Kirov – 18, in Almaty – 1.5 times. Out of 23 chlorine organic pesticides studied in the framework of the project the samples revealed presence of alpha-, beta-, gamma- GHCG, DDE, DDT and GHB. Average beta-GHCG concentrations were 7-19 times higher than in similar samples from European countries.
DDE concentration in breast milk is twice as high as the level of the substance in Europe. Average DDT concentration reached 295 ng/g.
Dioxins concentration in six fish samples was fairly low and comparable to the samples taken in rivers and lakes in the United States.
Cow milk. Dioxins and furans concentrations in cow milk were similar to those detected in breast milk. Thus, in Kazakhstan concentration of pollutants in breast milk is similar to the levels registered in Europe. Some exceptions include localized pollution in Almaty, Jetysai and Kirov involving THDD one of the most toxic dioxins, as well as widespread beta-GHCG and DDT pollution in all of the studied zones.
Pre-natal hip dislocation
Within last several years pre-natal hip dislocations have become increasingly common. Frequency of pre-natal hip dislocation is associated with negative environmental impacts on pregnant women, embryos and fetuses. Specifically, adverse impacts result from air pollution in cities, application of chemicals as fertilizers and as means of containing development of harmful insects etc. In recent years studies have revealed bone deformations resulting from deterioration of environmental conditions. In Kazakhstan environmental situation becomes worse year after year. .
Children arrive at Aksai National children's hospital from all over Kazakhstan. The highest numbers of children arrive for planned surgeries from southern Kazakhstan (75%), of which: 39.7% - from Almaty region, 18.9% - from Kzyl-Orda region, 12.0% from Southern-Kazakhstan region and 4.4% from Jambyl region. Despite the fact that because of economic reasons parents of children from Northern Kazakhstan, Eastern and Western Kazakhstan regions usually work with hospitals in nearby Russian cities, still Aksai National hospital admits significant numbers of children from ecological disaster areas in Eastern Kazakhstan region – 18.9%, Atyrau – 5.2% and Karaganda – 4.4%.
Human activities have led to changes in hydrochemical, hydrobiological and sanitary regimes of rivers and other bodies of water. There are many children with pre-natal hip dislocation coming from Jambyl region where there are high concentrations of pesticides and herbicides in Chu and Talas rivers, as well as from Southern Kazakhstan region where lead and other heavy metals concentrations in soil exceed maximum acceptable concentrations by dozens of times. All of these factors contribute to food quality deterioration.
Analysis of children arriving with pre-natal hip dislocations from Kzyl-Orda region indicates that particularly high percentage of this pathology is registered in regions characterized by poor environmental conditions. There are also many children with pre-natal hip dislocation coming from Almaty and the neighboring region. This testifies to the poor environmental conditions in the region as well as to the fact that children from Almaty tend to receive treatment earlier than children from other regions. Moreover, one can link the situation to the lack of iodine in potable water. The largest number of city children arrive at hospitals after reaching 2 years of age, while in rural areas parents usually detect pathological limpness only by the age of 3. The second peak in the number of patients admitted from rural areas usually corresponds to 7-8 years of age when children have to pass mandatory medical tests before going to school and while studying in the first grade.
Accumulated data indicates that environmental factors provoke development of pre-natal hip dislocation.
Heavy metals threaten the nation's health
Environmental pollution with heavy metals raises major concerns related to consequences for the nation's health. Massive Earth biosphere pollution with industrial grade lead is particularly alarming.
Lead is highly toxic and capable of penetrating and accumulating inside the human body. For example, pregnant women living in the industrial town of Karaganda are under threat of lead intoxication. Pathologic pregnancy developments result in lead accumulation in an infant's tissues. Such conclusions can be drawn from the fact that lead levels in blood and hair of newly born are 2-3 times higher than physiological levels. Pre-natal lead intoxication is among the leading causes of diseases and deaths among newly born. Lead disrupts reproductive functions (premature termination and pathologic pregnancy development) and results in births of unhealthy children. Lead accumulation in a pregnant women's body disrupts fetal development.
Particularly high lead concentrations can be detected in bone tissue, kidneys and liver. In blood 95% of lead are tied to hemoglobin of erythrocytes and 5% - blood plasma transferrines, where it occupies areas tied to iron. Increased iron concentration in proteins prevents lead from reaching blood plasma and facilitates its movement into liver. In cases of iron deficit anemia lead contamination risks are significantly higher. Lead intoxication damages blood creation organs, nervous system and kidneys resulting in kidney failures.
Aral Sea region children do not have a chance of growing healthy
Doctors representing Ecology and Children Department of Aksai children's hospital studied 208 children aged 6 to 14 from the Aral Sea region. The study focused on liver conditions associated with chronic non-infectious hepatitis. 143 children (68.7%) exhibited liver pathologies. Chronic non-virus hepatitis were detected among 16 (11.2%) children. Non-virus chronic hepatitis among children is known for the lack of complaints and clinical symptoms. Among all children both infectious and non-infectious chronic hepatitis were associated with adverse impacts on digestive and respiratory systems. Food and water quality characterized by high levels of toxins and mineralization (resulting from high concentrations of pesticides and herbicides) impacts digestive systems of children living in the Aral Sea region. In the region out of 1000 children up to 770-840 have digestive system disorders. The number of pre-natal developmental deficiencies is increasing. Skin diseases hold the third place and respiratory diseases – the fourth since skin and respiratory system are among the first areas to interact with the surrounding environment and are targeted by harmful substances coming from outside.
Widespread poverty in the Aral Sea region leads to proliferation of tuberculosis. It is detected among 35% of the population with primary forms being diagnosed among 3.4% of all children. Iodine deficit and ever increasing pollution of air, water, soils and food products lead to thyroid diseases. Up to half of all children are impacted by physical and sexual development delays and disorders coupled with bone deformations. Kidneys are responsible for moving heavy metals out of human body and that is why kidneys are hardest hit by heavy metal impacts. In the Aral Sea region more than 80% of children suffer from kidney disorders. The number of heart diseases is on the rise.
Kzyl-Orda is one of the towns located in the Aral Sea region and suffering from environmental pollution. Difficult climate, high levels of pesticides concentration in the environment, salts of heavy metals, social and economic difficulties, high levels of unemployment, a major proportion of families with several children, on-going health care system reforms serve as the backdrop for development of children living in this town. Prevalence of diseases among children during their first year of age serves as one of the key parameters characterizing health conditions of children living in this environmentally disadvantaged town.
Infectious diseases and diseases caused by parasites are of particular concern with 180.0 cases per 1000 children during their first year of age, which is 78.2% higher than the nationwide average and 77.5% higher than the same parameter measured in the city of Almaty. Poor water quality results in a high level of digestive system infections – 144.0 per 1000 children during their first year of age, which is 2.1 times higher than the nationwide average and 2.3 times higher than in the relatively well-off city of Almaty. High levels of blood diseases can be attributed to major social and economic difficulties and deteriorating nutrition of children during their first year of age. There are 169.4 blood diseases cases per 1000 children in 0-1 age group – 16.8% higher than the nationwide average and 29.0% higher than in Almaty.
Combined impact of adverse ecological, social and economic factors has led to a high level of endocrine diseases and digestive system disorders. In Kzyl-Orda the number of cases of these diseases reaches 262.9 per 1000 children in 0-1 age group, which is 1.9 times higher than the nationwide average and 1.5 times higher than in Almaty. As a result of poor health conditions the number of children with disabilities is growing, by 29.5% within the last year.
