• However we cannot grab the right of •Breathing•Food, water and shelter from the people of Sri Lanka

We need to protect the health of all Sri Lankans and we need to protect our environment too•We also need to achieve sustainable

development in Sri Lanka

Populations

• Taking e-waste as an example……………………..

Some chemicals of concern in E-waste

• Arsenic• PVC• Lead• Mercury• Cadmium• Poly Chlorinated

Biphenyls (PCB)• Brominated Flame

Retardants

• How do these get into humans?

• Open burning• Open dumping• Unsafe handling

China

Hazardous Waste, Ghana

Implications of e-waste• Environmental

soilWaterair

• Routes of entry

• Inhalation• Ingestion• Dermal contact• Transplacental

Mercury

Sources• CFL bulbs, fluorescent tubes• Thermometers,

sphygmomanometers• Amalgam• Whitening creams

Fetal Effects of MeHg

Life-Long Effects of MeHg

Iraq Infant - Effects of Mercury

• Blindness - Deafness• Cerebral Palsy - Seizures• Abnormal reflexes & muscle tone• Retarded motor development• Visual and Auditory Deficits• Delayed motor development• Altered DRH performance

Neurobehavioral Effects

Lead

Recycling Lead

"Lead makes the mind give way."

Ancient Awareness

GreekDioscerides - 2nd BC

12

Health Effects of Lead Poisoning

• Anemia• High blood

pressure• Damage to blood

cell formation• Kidney disease

• Brain damage• Nerve damage• Decreased fertility• Premature births• Miscarriages• IQ, Memory, Learning

Some health effects of lead poisoning are reversible (suchas kidney damage, others are permanent (such as wrist drop).

• Increased risk of not graduating from high school (rr 4.8)

• Poorer reading scores• Increased evidence of depression• Higher rate of hard drug use• Increased risk for attention deficit

disorder • Increased risk for antisocial behavior

Academic & Social Costs Of Lead Exposure

Endocrine disrupting chemicals

Chemicals - EDCs DDTBisphenol APolychlorinated biphenylsPolybrominated diphenyl

ethersPhthalates