title: Approaches to systematic assessment of environmental exposures posed at hazardous waste sites in the developing world: the Toxic Sites Identification Program.
abstract: In the developing world, environmental chemical exposures due to hazardous waste sites are poorly documented. We describe the approach taken by the Blacksmith Institute's Toxic Sites Identification Program in documenting environmental chemical exposures due to hazardous waste sites globally, identifying sites of concern and quantifying pathways, populations, and severity of exposure. A network of local environmental investigators was identified and trained to conduct hazardous waste site investigations and assessments. To date, 2,095 contaminated sites have been identified within 47 countries having an estimated population at risk of 71,500,000. Trained researchers and investigators have visited 1,400 of those sites. Heavy metals are the leading primary exposures, with water supply and ambient air being the primary routes of exposure. Even though chemical production has occurred largely in the developed world to date, many hazardous waste sites in the developing world pose significant hazards to the health of large portions of the population. Further research is needed to quantify potential health and economic consequences and identify cost-effective approaches to remediation.
authors.affiliation: Blacksmith Institute, 475 Riverside Drive, 860 New York, NY 10115, USA.
authors.forename: Bret
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ericson
authors.forename: Jack
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Caravanos
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chatham-Stephens
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Landrigan
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fuller
mesh_terms: D003906:Developing Countries; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D006256:Hazardous Waste / Q000032:analysis*; D012037:Refuse Disposal; D018570:Risk Assessment
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D006256:Hazardous Waste