the toxic truth - Greenpeace

188 Amnesty internAtionAl And greenpeAce netherlAnds
endnotes
212. INPH, Section 4.10.
213. INPH Study, Section 5.3.1.
214. INPH Study, Section 5.4.1.
215. INPH Study, Section 5.4.1.
216. INPH Study, Section 5.4.4. See table XVII.
217. INPH Study, Section 5.4.2.
218. Dr K. Amnesty International interview, June
2011, by phone.
219. Dr K. Amnesty International interview, June
2011, by phone.
220. Dr K. Amnesty International interview, June
2011, by phone.
221. Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques en
Côte d’Ivoire, Results of Fieldwork conducted
between 9 October 2006 and 28 December
2006, Document 2: Epidemiological Section,
p31.
222. Yao Essaie Motto v Others and Trafigura Limited
and Trafigura Beheer BV, “Witness statement
of Tiemoko Bleu (GP in the military hospital in
Abidjan during the crisis)”, in the High Court
of Justice, Queen’s Bench Division, Claim No.
HQ06X03370, HQ06X03393, HQ07X00599,
HQ07X01068, HQ07X01604, HQ07X02192,
undated, para 14; 18 (Leigh Day translation).
223. Angèle N’Tamon, Djibi village nurse, Amnesty
International mission in Côte d’Ivoire, February
2009.
224. Dr Bleu noted cardiovascular problems among
patients; Dr Bleu, interview with Amnesty International,
June 2011; Dr K. and Dr Konan noted
gynaecological problems, including cases of
miscarriages – interviews with Amnesty International,
December and January 2010.
225. Dr Bleu, interview with Amnesty International,
June 2011, Dr K and Dr Ipodou, witness statements,
“Witness statement of Tiemoko Bleu”,
in the High Court of Justice, Queen’s Bench Division,
Claim No. HQ06X03370, HQ06X03393,
HQ07X00599, HQ07X01068, HQ07X01604,
HQ07X02192, 4 December 2008; Amnesty
International interview, June 2011 (by phone).
226. Focus group interviews with women in Djibi
village, Amnesty International mission in Côte
d’Ivoire, February 2009.
227. INPH Study, table xii, section 5.3.4.1.
228. WHO, media report, “Chemical dump in Côte
d’Ivoire”, 15 September 2006. See: www.who.
int/mediacentre/news/notes/2006/np26/en/
index.html (accessed 20 October 2011)
229. Amnesty International interview, June 2011.
230. Amnesty International interview, June 2011.
231. Amnesty International interview, June 2011.
232. Dr A, witness statements, “Witness statement
of Dr A”, in the High Court of Justice, Queen’s
Bench Division, Claim No. HQ06X03370,
HQ06X03393, HQ07X00599, HQ07X01068,
HQ07X01604, HQ07X02192, 4 December
2008.
233. Dr Bleu, Amnesty International interview, June
2011.
234. International Federation of Red Cross and Red
Crescent Societies, Côte d’Ivoire, Health Hazard,
LD00279, 11 July 2007, p1.
235. Fifteen deaths were recorded in the findings
of an independent inquiry set up by the Ivorian
Prime Minister (International Commission of
Inquiry on Toxic Waste, 19 February 2007,
p2). This figure was also cited in the report of
Special Rapporteur on Toxic Waste, Okechukwu
Ibeanu, Report of the Special Rapporteur on the
adverse effects of the movement and dumping of
toxic and dangerous products and wastes on the
enjoyment of human rights, Addendum, Human
Rights Council, Twelfth session, Agenda item
3, Doc UN A/HRC/12/26/Add.2, 3 September
2009, para 31, available at www2.ohchr.org/
english/bodies/hrcouncil/docs/12session/A-
HRC-12-26-Add2.pdf. Sixteen individuals
were identified as having died as result of the
waste by the Ivorian Ministry of Finance for
the purposes of compensating their relatives,
Communiqué du porte parole de la présidence
de la Republique relatif à l’indemnisation des
victimes des déchets toxiques, 14 June 2007,
available at www.dechetstoxiques.gouv.ci/
pdf/communique-du-porte-parole-du-pr.pdf.
Seventeen deaths were recorded by the Ivorian
criminal court, Court of Appeal of Abidjan Ruling
No. 42, Hearing of 19 March 2008, p41.
236. INPH study, Section 5.4.5 .
237. Section 5.4.5, table XViii, INPH study.
238. Hydrogen sulphide, mercaptans, phenols and
thiophenols were found after acidification of
the samples with a hydrochloric acid solution.
In the alkaline watery phase of the samples
these components appear in the basic form,
namely as sulphide, mercaptide, phenolate and
thiophenolate. A range of mercaptans were
identified in the mixture analysed by NFI, including
methyl mercaptan, ethyl mercaptan, butyl
mercaptan, propyl mercaptan, pentyl mercaptan,
phenyl mercaptan, heptyl mercaptan. These
compounds were identified in a mixture which
had been acidified.
239. The pH of some of the waste fell below 11. Reply
(Trafigura Limited v. British Broadcasting Corporation
in the High Court of Justice, Queen’s
Bench Division, Claim No. HQ09X02050) served
20 November 2009, p31: “CIAPOL surveyed
the dumpsite at Akouédo on 21 August 2006
(the third day after dumping took place).
CIAPOL reported the pH value at that time
to have reached 10.5.” “The report prepared
by the French Civil Protection Team dated 13
September 2006 showed the soil at Akouédo
to be between pH 9 – pH 10 (this sample was
taken after the heavy rains on the night of 3-4
September 2006). Trafigura made “an estimate
(p34) of the most rapid likely reduction in pH
over time” and that “after around 22 days the
pH would drop to 9.5.” Well before this the
majority of mercaptans would have evaporated
with their rate of evaporation reaching maximal
values when the pH was between 10.6 and 11.
The time taken to reach these higher pH values
can only be surmised.
240. Amnesty International and Greenpeace consulted
Dr Alastair Hay, Professor of Environmental
Toxicology, University of Leeds.
241. Benzene can be absorbed into the body either
by inhalation, through the skin, or by ingestion.
The chemical is irritating to the eyes, the skin,
and the respiratory tract, and any swallowing
may cause aspiration into the lungs with the risk
of a chemical pneumonitis (oedema, or water
retention in the lungs). There may be effects
on the central nervous system resulting in the
lowering of consciousness. If the concentration
is high enough, individuals may become
unconscious and die. The effects of inhalation
include dizziness, drowsiness, headache,
nausea, shortness of breath, convulsions
and unconsciousness. The chemical may be
absorbed across the skin and, as it removes fat
from the skin, the skin will become dry, red and
painful. Exposure of the eyes will cause them to
become red and painful. Any ingestion will result
in abdominal pain, sore throat and vomiting.
Exposure to benzene can have effects on the
bone marrow and the immune system, and
chemical is a recognized cancer-causing agent in
humans. Toluene is solvent which is irritating to
the eyes and respiratory tract. Like all solvents
it has effects on the central nervous system,
causing an increasing loss of consciousness as
concentrations increase. In high concentrations
there may be cardiac dysrhythmia (heart irregulatories)
and unconsciousness. On inhalation,
individuals complain of a cough, sore throat,
dizziness, drowsiness, headache and nausea,
and may become unconscious. The effect on
the skin is to dry it and for it to become red and
painful after exposure. Toluene removes fat from
the skin and if there is repeated exposure. After
ingestion there will be a burning sensation in the
intestinal tract and abdominal pain. The effects
of inhalation exposure to xylenes are dizziness,
drowsiness, headache and nausea. The chemical
will irritate the eyes, causing them to become
red and painful. The effect on the skin is to dry
it and remove fat; the skin will also become red
and irritated. Like many solvents, xylenes have
an effect on the central nervous system and the
higher the concentration the greater the effect.
If the concentration is sufficient, individuals will
lose consciousness. On ingestion xylenes will
cause a burning sensation in the oesophageal
tract as well as abdominal pain.