the toxic truth - Greenpeace

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the toxic truth Dr Bleu, a general practitioner at the Hôpital Militaire d’Abidjan, treated 6,421 patients over a period of 77 days. He stated that: “ the most common symptoms were respiratory and eNt problems, such as dyspnea, thoracic pain, rhinorrhea and otalgia. Around 70 per cent of those we saw had these symptoms. Skin problems, such as cutaneous eruptions were slightly less common, perhaps only 30-40 per cent of patients. the patients who presented early on, within the first week, complained principally of symptoms affecting the eNt, ocular and pulmonary symptoms. … Many of the eNt symptoms were quite serious, and I believe that it was the inflammation of the eNt system that in many cases caused people to suffer such severe headaches and, in some cases, dizziness and fever. After around 10 days or two weeks, I noticed the pattern of symptoms altered slightly. while most patients still complained of the symptoms I have already mentioned, we began to see increasing numbers of people who 229 also had digestive and skin problems. ” Doctors who treated people at public and private medical facilities stated that those who had been exposed to the toxic waste manifested a unique mix of symptoms. Dr K stated, “If a patient suffered from stinging eyes, we knew it wasn’t related to a bout of malaria. Generally, respiratory, ophthalmological and ENT symptoms often indicated a contamination by toxic waste” 230 Dr Bleu said, “Those who were exposed did not tend to present with just a headache or just stomach problems, without also having some accompanying symptoms such as the reddened eyes or a runny nose. Where there were doubts as to the cause of the patient’s illness, we ran tests to eliminate other possible causes, such as malaria or typhoid fever”. 231 The doctors said that the severity and duration of the symptoms varied according to patients’ ages, individual sensitivities, whether they had pre-existing health problems, levels of exposure and whether they continued to be exposed to the waste. They said that some adults were unable to go to work, and children missed school because of the pain and discomfort they experienced. Dr A, a lung specialist, stated in an affidavit that: “ the symptoms of the toxic waste were particularly severe amongst the weak, such as asthmatics, those suffering from respiratory allergies, children, the elderly, those undergoing treatment for or recovered from tuberculosis (with pulmonary after effects), and those who were HIV positive. these symptoms tended to be more serious among people living close to the dumpsites, in terms of pulmonary effects; I noticed that pulmonary problems appeared rapidly as a secondary effect following airway exposure to the toxic waste . ” 232 Doctors believe that, after people were given medication, most of the symptoms lasted only a few days for people who did not have preexisting conditions and who did not continue to live near the waste. Dr Bleu noted that the cutaneous symptoms, especially rashes, lasted for longer (a week to 10 days) even with treatment. He also noted that children were particularly affected by cutaneous symptoms. 233 This was also confirmed by a Red Cross report, which noted: “ the gas emanations from the waste not only polluted the environment, but also caused various pathological problems in these communities. Among the effects were breathing, digestive and dermatological problems, which mostly affected youths and 234 children aged under 15 years. ” Doctors also told Amnesty International that they continued to treat people with persistent or chronic problems up to November and December 2006 and January 2007. 57 Chapter 5
58 Amnesty internAtionAl And greenpeAce netherlAnds Chapter 5 aGe sex Date of Death Deaths recorded The Ivorian authorities recorded a number of deaths resulting from exposure to the waste but there are gaps in the information on the number of people who died, and the causes of death. Official reports variously record 15-17 deaths caused by exposure to the toxic waste. 235 The families of 16 people recorded dead (including six children) later received substantial compensation payouts from the settlement money paid by Trafigura to the Ivorian government (see Chapter 11). The INPH study noted that hospitals recorded 10 deaths 236 and documented the following information for the 10 deaths that were reported by hospitals: 237 DuratIon of hospItalIzatIon (In Days) DIaGnosIs 4 years M 29/08/2006 2 Respiratory distress 16 years M 08/09/2006 0 Dead on arrival Unknown M 08/09/2006 0 Not specified 6 months Not known 09/09/2006 0 Anaemia and respiratory distress 14 years F 10/09/2006 1 Haemorrhagic syndrome 19 years M 14/09/2006 2 Acute diarrhoea, vomiting and fever 39 years M 17/09/2006 1 Diarrhoea and vomiting 39 years M 17/09/2006 1 Diarrhoea and vomiting 37 years M 20/09/2006 0 cardiopulmonary arrest Unknown M 24/09/2006 12 Pleuropneumopathy Amnesty International was also informed about other deaths which were believed to be linked to exposure to the toxic waste but were neither recorded nor investigated (see section on prisoners left exposed to the toxic waste below).
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