2. About the Study
To emphasize the link between environmental pollution and public health in
an urban setting, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) commissioned
a pilot study of the Dandora municipal waste dumping site in Nairobi, Kenya.
Environmental samples (soil and water) were analyzed to determine the content and
concentrations of various pollutants (heavy metals, polychlorinated biphenyls and
pesticides) that are known to affect human health. Soil samples from the dumpsite
were compared to samples taken from another site - Waithaka, which is a peri-urban
residential area on the outskirts of Nairobi.
A medical camp was set up at the St. John Informal School that is located
next to the dumpsite. A total of 328 children and adolescents living and schooling
adjacent the dumpsite were examined and treated for various ailments. Of these, 40
were referred for further laboratory tests that entailed blood and urine sampling to
assess the impact of exposure to environmental pollutants from the dumpsite on
human health.
The flow chart below shows the link between the environmental pollutants
from the dumpsite and public health impacts on the adjacent communities. This link
is further explained in this report.