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Amnesty international and greenpeace netherlands
endnotes
212. INPH, Section 4.10. 213. INPH Study, Section 5.3.1. 214. INPH Study, Section 5.4.1.
232. Dr A, witness statements, “Witness statement of Dr A”, in the High Court of Justice, Queen’s Bench Division, Claim No. HQ06X03370, HQ06X03393, HQ07X00599, HQ07X01068, HQ07X01604, HQ07X02192, 4 December 2008.
215. INPH Study, Section 5.4.1. 216. INPH Study, Section 5.4.4. See table XVII. 217. INPH Study, Section 5.4.2. 218. Dr K. Amnesty International interview, June 2011, by phone. 219. Dr K. Amnesty International interview, June 2011, by phone. 220. Dr K. Amnesty International interview, June 2011, by phone. 221. Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques en Côte d’Ivoire, Results of Fieldwork conducted between 9 October 2006 and 28 December 2006, Document 2: Epidemiological Section, p31. 222. Yao Essaie Motto v Others and Trafigura Limited and Trafigura Beheer BV, “Witness statement of Tiemoko Bleu (GP in the military hospital in Abidjan during the crisis)”, in the High Court of Justice, Queen’s Bench Division, Claim No. HQ06X03370, HQ06X03393, HQ07X00599, HQ07X01068, HQ07X01604, HQ07X02192, undated, para 14; 18 (Leigh Day translation). 223. Angèle N’Tamon, Djibi village nurse, Amnesty International mission in Côte d’Ivoire, February 2009. 224. Dr Bleu noted cardiovascular problems among patients; Dr Bleu, interview with Amnesty International, June 2011; Dr K. and Dr Konan noted gynaecological problems, including cases of miscarriages – interviews with Amnesty International, December and January 2010. 225. Dr Bleu, interview with Amnesty International, June 2011, Dr K and Dr Ipodou, witness statements, “Witness statement of Tiemoko Bleu”, in the High Court of Justice, Queen’s Bench Division, Claim No. HQ06X03370, HQ06X03393, HQ07X00599, HQ07X01068, HQ07X01604, HQ07X02192, 4 December 2008; Amnesty International interview, June 2011 (by phone). 226. Focus group interviews with women in Djibi village, Amnesty International mission in Côte d’Ivoire, February 2009. 227. INPH Study, table xii, section 5.3.4.1. 228. WHO, media report, “Chemical dump in Côte d’Ivoire”, 15 September 2006. See: www.who. int/mediacentre/news/notes/2006/np26/en/ index.html (accessed 20 October 2011) 229. Amnesty International interview, June 2011. 230. Amnesty International interview, June 2011. 231. Amnesty International interview, June 2011.
233. Dr Bleu, Amnesty International interview, June 2011. 234. International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Côte d’Ivoire, Health Hazard, LD00279, 11 July 2007, p1. 235. Fifteen deaths were recorded in the findings of an independent inquiry set up by the Ivorian Prime Minister (International Commission of Inquiry on Toxic Waste, 19 February 2007, p2). This figure was also cited in the report of Special Rapporteur on Toxic Waste, Okechukwu Ibeanu, Report of the Special Rapporteur on the adverse effects of the movement and dumping of toxic and dangerous products and wastes on the enjoyment of human rights, Addendum, Human Rights Council, Twelfth session, Agenda item 3, Doc UN A/HRC/12/26/Add.2, 3 September 2009, para 31, available at www2.ohchr.org/ english/bodies/hrcouncil/docs/12session/AHRC-12-26-Add2.pdf. Sixteen individuals were identified as having died as result of the waste by the Ivorian Ministry of Finance for the purposes of compensating their relatives, Communiqué du porte parole de la présidence de la Republique relatif à l’indemnisation des victimes des déchets toxiques, 14 June 2007, available at www.dechetstoxiques.gouv.ci/ pdf/communique-du-porte-parole-du-pr.pdf. Seventeen deaths were recorded by the Ivorian criminal court, Court of Appeal of Abidjan Ruling No. 42, Hearing of 19 March 2008, p41. 236. INPH study, Section 5.4.5 . 237. Section 5.4.5, table XViii, INPH study. 238. Hydrogen sulphide, mercaptans, phenols and thiophenols were found after acidification of the samples with a hydrochloric acid solution. In the alkaline watery phase of the samples these components appear in the basic form, namely as sulphide, mercaptide, phenolate and thiophenolate. A range of mercaptans were identified in the mixture analysed by NFI, including methyl mercaptan, ethyl mercaptan, butyl mercaptan, propyl mercaptan, pentyl mercaptan, phenyl mercaptan, heptyl mercaptan. These compounds were identified in a mixture which had been acidified.
239. The pH of some of the waste fell below 11. Reply (Trafigura Limited v. British Broadcasting Corporation in the High Court of Justice, Queen’s Bench Division, Claim No. HQ09X02050) served 20 November 2009, p31: “CIAPOL surveyed the dumpsite at Akouédo on 21 August 2006 (the third day after dumping took place). CIAPOL reported the pH value at that time to have reached 10.5.” “The report prepared by the French Civil Protection Team dated 13 September 2006 showed the soil at Akouédo to be between pH 9 – pH 10 (this sample was taken after the heavy rains on the night of 3-4 September 2006). Trafigura made “an estimate (p34) of the most rapid likely reduction in pH over time” and that “after around 22 days the pH would drop to 9.5.” Well before this the majority of mercaptans would have evaporated with their rate of evaporation reaching maximal values when the pH was between 10.6 and 11. The time taken to reach these higher pH values can only be surmised. 240. Amnesty International and Greenpeace consulted Dr Alastair Hay, Professor of Environmental Toxicology, University of Leeds. 241. Benzene can be absorbed into the body either by inhalation, through the skin, or by ingestion. The chemical is irritating to the eyes, the skin, and the respiratory tract, and any swallowing may cause aspiration into the lungs with the risk of a chemical pneumonitis (oedema, or water retention in the lungs). There may be effects on the central nervous system resulting in the lowering of consciousness. If the concentration is high enough, individuals may become unconscious and die. The effects of inhalation include dizziness, drowsiness, headache, nausea, shortness of breath, convulsions and unconsciousness. The chemical may be absorbed across the skin and, as it removes fat from the skin, the skin will become dry, red and painful. Exposure of the eyes will cause them to become red and painful. Any ingestion will result in abdominal pain, sore throat and vomiting. Exposure to benzene can have effects on the bone marrow and the immune system, and chemical is a recognized cancer-causing agent in humans. Toluene is solvent which is irritating to the eyes and respiratory tract. Like all solvents it has effects on the central nervous system, causing an increasing loss of consciousness as concentrations increase. In high concentrations there may be cardiac dysrhythmia (heart irregulatories) and unconsciousness. On inhalation, individuals complain of a cough, sore throat, dizziness, drowsiness, headache and nausea, and may become unconscious. The effect on the skin is to dry it and for it to become red and painful after exposure. Toluene removes fat from the skin and if there is repeated exposure. After ingestion there will be a burning sensation in the intestinal tract and abdominal pain. The effects of inhalation exposure to xylenes are dizziness, drowsiness, headache and nausea. The chemical will irritate the eyes, causing them to become red and painful. The effect on the skin is to dry it and remove fat; the skin will also become red and irritated. Like many solvents, xylenes have an effect on the central nervous system and the higher the concentration the greater the effect. If the concentration is sufficient, individuals will lose consciousness. On ingestion xylenes will cause a burning sensation in the oesophageal tract as well as abdominal pain.