Inventory of Obsolete Pesticide Warehouses in Tajikistan and Implications for Removal of Contaminated Soil

BACKGROUND. Tajikistan is an agrarian-industrial republic. A large portion of the Tajikistan economy relies on agriculture. With the rise of agriculture, especially cotton production, came the widespread use of pesticides. Abandoned and unsupervised pesticide storage warehouses have become a health and environmental problem. In many cases such sites, as well as significant areas of pesticide-contaminated land, remain accessible to the public. A survey and analysis of 26 former pesticide storage warehouse sites across Tajikistan revealed a country-wide pesticide exposure problem that threatens the health of vulnerable populations. Infrastructure and local governance issues are barriers to addressing this health crisis for rural residents. OBJECTIVES. The purpose of this article is to describe the issues surrounding former pesticide storage warehouses and their effect on the health of the population of Tajikistan. MATERIALS AND METHODS. In 2012, the non-governmental organization (NGO), Pure Earth (formerly Blacksmith Institute), with the financial support of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Green Cross Switzerland and the European Union conducted surveys of 26 pesticide warehouses located throughout Tajikistan. The survey included detailed site assessments, including analysis of the maintenance of chemicals and soil testing. RESULTS. Soil samples taken from the studied sites exceeded maximum permissible concentrations referenced by Pure Earth by several hundred times for dichlorodiphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT) and hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH), as well as aldrin and dieldrin. Even the most polluted sites had families living on the premises. CONCLUSIONS. Pesticide contamination in Tajikistan is a serious and ongoing problem that requires the attention of local, state governments, and international non-governmental organizations. We recommend the development of a government-sponsored public education campaign to inform the population about the potential risks of exposure to obsolete pesticides. The dangers of agricultural use, former storage warehouses and disposal areas should be addressed. In addition, data from the 2012 surveys of 26 warehouses should be used to prioritize the four high-risk sites and develop preliminary clean-up plans for contaminated soil around warehouses to present to government ministries and NGOs. COMPETING INTERESTS. The authors declare no competing financial interests