Djibouti Port Threatened with Pesticide Leaks

February 20, 2002

Ten leaking shipping containers of a toxic pesticide are creating serious human health and environmental problems in the port of Djibouti, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The present location of the containers already is severely contaminated, according to FAO. The worst affected site is near a food aid store.

FAO called for an immediate emergency intervention to avoid further contamination of the port and its workers. "The authorities in Djibouti should not be left alone with this problem," said FAO expert Kevin Helps, who was asked by the Djibouti Ministry of Agriculture to visit the site and make safeguard recommendations.

The pesticide chromated copper arsenate is used primarily as a wood preservative for power and telegraph poles, Helps said. The chemical is a carcinogen and dangerous to the environment.

More than 200 tons of the chemical were shipped recently from the United Kingdom to be delivered to the Ethiopian Power Corporation. The chemicals were packaged in plastic containers. "All previous shipments of this chemical have used steel drums for the product and no leakage occurred. It appears that the plastic containers have suffered a catastrophic failure resulting in leakage from the container," Helps said. "The containers must have started to leak while on the vessel."

He added, "There is no danger to the entire port yet, but we are concerned about the current storage point. Liquid continues to leak from all the containers. An attempt to open one of the containers to inspect the cargo was stopped when liquid started to flow."

Until recently the port authorities had not received information about the toxicity of the cargo and safety data. "There is no doubt that the incorrect handling of the chemical has exposed many workers to unacceptable levels of this toxic material," Helps said. Port authorities have taken first steps to safeguard the contaminated areas, and the potential for the spread of contamination by dust or wind has been reduced.

As an immediate emergency intervention, FAO suggested setting the storage site as a quarantine area and placing guards to prevent access to the site. All further leakage should be contained to prevent further soil contamination. "Under no circumstances should the containers be opened until a specialist in dealing with hazardous waste with all necessary safety equipment is present at the site," Helps said. "The pesticides cannot be transported to Ethiopia without being repackaged."