– Monitoring and risk assessment of contaminants in Southern Africa: Arusha in Tanzania as a model

Rapid population growth, accompanied by intense urbanisation, increase of industrial activities and a higher exploitation of cultivable land have led to a huge increase in the quantity of discharge of various types of environmental pollutants in Africa. This can lead to adverse health effects in humans and animals. It is of particular concern that uncontrolled discharge of potential harmful pollutants is still occurring because of a limited awareness regarding pollution handling, utilisation and protection. Data to conduct risk assessment and management on pesticide pollution in humans, food and environment are scarce.

The integrated multidisciplinary project MoraTanz, involving experience within epidemiology, social science and environmental toxicology, was designed to address the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goal number 7 ‘Ensure Environmental Sustainability’. The main objective of the project was to reveal the status of agro- and industrial chemical contamination in Southern Africa as a basis for risk assessment and management. The project has used affordable and reliable tools for the detection, monitoring and reporting of contaminants in water, domestic animals, wildlife and humans that had already been tested in Eastern Africa, and transferred the technologies and know-how to institutions in the South. MoraTanz results have contributed in improving the management of hazardous chemicals on an international level. The project has developed an important scientific network between relevant national, continental and global institutions, and enhanced the knowledge base for achieving sustainable development in less developed countries as well as on a global level.

Publications

Müller, M. H. B., Polder, A., Brynildsrud, O. B., Grønnestad, R., Karimi, M., Lie, E., … & Lyche, J. L. (2019). Prenatal exposure to persistent organic pollutants in Northern Tanzania and their distribution between breast milk, maternal blood, placenta and cord blood. Environ Res, 170, 433–442.
Müller, M. H. B., Polder, A., Brynildsrud, O. B., Karimi, M., Lie, E., Manyilizu, W. B., … & Lyche, J. L. (2017). Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in human breast milk and associated health risks to nursing infants in Northern Tanzania. Environ Res, 154, 425–434.
Müller, M. H. B., Polder, A., Brynildsrud, O. B., Lie, E., Løken, K. B., Manyilizu, W. B., … & Lyche, J. L. (2016). Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) in breast milk and associated health risks to nursing infants in Northern Tanzania. Environ Int, 89, 38–47.
Polder, A., Müller, M. B., Lyche, J. L., Mdegela, R. H., Nonga, H. E., Mabiki, F. P., … & Lie, E. (2014). Levels and patterns of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in tilapia (Oreochromis sp.) from four different lakes in Tanzania: Geographical differences and implications for human health. Sci Total Environ, 488, 252–260.

Project partners: NMBU, Norwegian Veterinary Institute, FHI, NIVA, Sokoine University, Morogoro, Tanzania, Mount Meru Hospital, Arusha, Tanzania

Project periode: 2011–2017