Civil society and sound hazardous waste management, asbestos and POPs, in Kazakhstan

Country: Kazakhstan
Donors / Program: Delegation of the European Commission in Kazakhstan and German Ministry of Environment and Nuclear Safety
WECF Partners: EcoCenter Kazakhstan, Greenwomen Kazakhstan, University of Kassel, Germany
Issues: Chemicals and Health
Duration: 01/2009 - 10/2010


Kazakhstan is one of the biggest producers and consumers of asbestos. People are exposed by asbestos in their homes and livelihoods, in regions of asbestos mining and in contact with asbestos waste. There is no evaluation of diseases caused by asbestos and POPs, not even information about their dangers.

This topic is very relevant to e.g. vulnerable groups, highly exposed groups like workers, inhabitants of mining areas and waste areas because they suffer from exposure and even do not know that places where they live and work or go to school are highly dangerous for their health.
To raise awareness, provide information, educate trainers, building networks, strengthen citizens capacities and develop solution strategies to present state authorities will help to reduce the use of asbestos and POPs and clean up contaminated waste sites.

WECF in cooperation with EcoCenter, Greenwomen and the University of Kassel have convened so far a High-Level Conference on Asbestos and POPs in Astana and conducted trainings in several cities of Kazakhstan.

For more information: alexandra.caterbow(at)wecf.eu





News on this project

 

Parma 2010: A small step forward on asbestos
Eastern European, Caucasus and Central Asia countries - producers and users of chrysotile asbestos – have committed to work on elimination of asbestos related diseases in cooperation with WHO and International Labour Organisation.
12.03.2010


 

Parma 2010: WECF responds to attack by Russian Asbestos Industry Association
The Russian Asbestos Industry attacks WECF for promoting substitution of chrysotile asbestos, in the last days leading up to the Parma Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health
05.03.2010


 

Women's Caucus presented its message to Ministers of Environment present in Bali
Today the Women's Caucus presented its message to the Ministers of Environment present at this years UNEP Governing Council and Global Ministers for the Environment Forum in Bali, Indonesia, February 23-26 2010
22.02.2010


 

Un évènement historique pour WECF en Kazakhstan
Le Kazakhstan, second producteur mondial, et gros consommateur d’amiante chrysotile, a ouvert ses portes pour la première fois à un débat public sur les dangers de l’amiante pour la santé, lors d’une Conférence Internationale.
04.05.2009


 

First ever conference on chrysotile asbestos and health in Kazakhstan
Participants of high level international expert conference organized by WECF, agree on a resolution
24.04.2009