Health risks associated with waste management in international operations
Publish date: 2006-01-01
Report number: FOI-R--1952--SE
Pages: 54
Written in: Swedish
Keywords:
- Health risks
- international operation
- waste management
- landfills
- landfill gas
- leachate
- burning waste
Abstract
On commission of the Swedish Armed Forces (MUST), FOI NBC Defence has outlined health risks which can be related to waste management in areas that are, or can get in focus when it comes to Swedish peacekeeping operations. The aim of this study is to describe the health risks to personnel participating in an international operation (mission). The outline focuses on landfill emissions such as landfill gas, leachate and smoke from burning waste/landfills. Examples of acute health effects are mainly headache, dizziness and irritation of eyes and airways. Exposure to smoke from burning waste generally increases the risk for acute health effects. Regarding the long-term health effects, an increased risk has been reported in several studies and one might suspect that long-term exposure to landfills can lead to negative health effects among the exposed population. However, lage deficiencies in the studies have made it impossible to accomplish reliable risk assessments in this matter. Two general and fundamental rules when it comes to deployed personnel are to maintain caution and avoid unnecessary exposure. Deployment close to landfills or waste disposals should be avoided as far as possible. If there are burning landfills in the camp area and, too, a risk for exposre of the deployed personnel, recommendations aon proper protective equipment should be given.