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Environment
and health
Ecological Situation in Central Asia Series
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.
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