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| HOME | RESEARCH | INFORMATION | MEDIA | TRAINEES | PARTNERS | CONTACT | ||||||||||||||||
| PROJECT PILCOMAYO | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Journal | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Nederlandse versie | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Project desciption | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Pilcomayo-project concentrates on the environmental- and healthproblems that concern the Bolivian fishing communities along the river Pilcomayo. Previous recearch made it clear that the people inhabiting the villages along this river are being exposed to enlarged health risks due to the elevated concentrations of heavy metals in their environment. There are clear indications that these risks are particularly high for infants (Schaap & Stassen, 2004). | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| The river Pilcomayo is continuesly being polluted with heavy metals like lead, cadmium, mercury, zinc and cupper, due to mining activities in Potosi. Potential exposure-pathways along wich these metals enter the inhabitants of the communities along the river are the use of riverwater for drinking and cooking and the consumption of fish(bones). | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Through research and education efforts are being made to encline the supposed health risks. Research is needed to estimate the exact health risks for these Indian people and to asses the main sources and exposure-pathways of pollution. Education and information of local people as well as the main audience is set in to enlarge the consciousness of potential health risks. Eventually in co-operation with local organisations efforts will be made to find possible sollutions. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| This website contains background information on the problems and research of the Pilcomayo-project. Once the project starts (oktober 2005) this website will also be used as a diary for people interested in the progresses of the project. For any questions or remarks on the project you can contact us through the contact information page. | ||||||||||||||||||||||