Recommendations on the use of non-degradable materials in ghana

Recommendations from a meeting on
The use of non-degradable materials in ghana

Organized by the Ghana Public Health Association

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Ghana Public Health Association organized a scientific seminar to examine the impact on the environment, the health consequences as well as the policy implications of the use of non-biodegradable materials in Ghana. The seminar was driven by three main specific issues. Firstly, the hazard caused by plastics on the environment; secondly, the potential effect on human health of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) used as pesticides, and lastly, the concern and the controversy about the potential human health hazards arising from the wide use and safety of food and beverage in contact with non-degradable materials.
The meeting observed that there is no question about the hazard caused by the inappropriate use and disposal of plastics on the environment and indirectly on human health and we propose a total ban on its use for packaging and as containers. The harm caused by POPs is such that the laws banning or limiting their use should be strictly enforced. There is insufficient evidence linking food in contact with non-degradable materials such as disposable water bottles, plastics, food containers including take-away packages, infant feeding bottles, and microwave ovenware, with any health hazard and we recommend further studies on the issue.
Context
1. Technological advancement has enabled the production of materials that can withstand extreme temperatures, and have long-lasting effects on the environment - plastics, glass, batteries, heavy metals in electronic components, polythene, styrene, polyester clothing items, and aluminum cans, etc. Natural processes cannot cause the decay of these so-called non-biodegradable materials in the environment.
2. They are widely used in diverse ways such as take-away packs, disposable water and coffee cups, and food contact materials such as water bottles, infant feeding bottles, microwave ovenware etc.
3. Plastics are the best example of non-biodegradable materials. They are man-made and will bio-degrade very slowly, if at all, and they are hazardous to plants and animals.
4. Epoxy resins are used as protective linings for a variety of canned foods and beverages, and as a coating on metal lids for glass bottles and jars including containers used for infant feeding formula.

5. The above uses of plastics and epoxy resins result in potential exposure of consumers to Bisphenol A (BPA) through the diet. In 2009, over 95% of the world consumption of BPA was for the production of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins.
6. Because of the controversy and uncertainty surrounding the issue of BPA exposure through the diet via food contact materials, the scientific community continues to assess the safety of BPA.
7. A Joint World Health Organization and Food and Agriculture Organization Expert Meeting was convened from 2nd-5th November 2010 in Ottawa, Canada to review the Toxicological and Health Aspects of Bisphenol A. The conclusions from that meeting and others provided much scientific evidence on the issue and informed our discussions.
8. Additionally, there is widespread use of pesticides which include Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) such as dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT) and chlordane in pest control.
9. POPs resist degradation and are persistent in the environment, have the ability to bio-accumulate, and bio-concentrate up to 70,000 times their original concentrations and can affect non-target organisms in the environment and increase risk to humans.
10. It is under this context that the Ghana Public Health Association (GPHA) organized a public scientific session on the effect of the use of non-biodegradable materials on human health and the environment on 30 April 2015 to understand the nature of the problem, its potential threat to Ghana and discuss the public health implications to inform policy. Presentations were made on various aspects of the topic based on scientific evidence, followed by plenary discussions. GPHA is an apolitical, non-governmental professional association of all interested professionals who have a contribution to make to improve public health in Ghana.
Key Issues and Conclusions
1. The use of plastics has major unfavourable effects on the environment. Plastics lead to waste disposal problems, choking of drains and gutters contributing to or worsening the effects of flooding and indirectly affect health through food and water contamination. They also contribute greatly to the breeding of insect vectors of diseases such as malaria and filariasis. They remain in the soil forever, resulting in unsightly environment, destroy the fertility of the soil and become a danger to animals and humans. Though there are laws in Ghana to deal with such situations, they are not enforced by relevant local authorities.
2. The available evidence so far from the literature shows that at current exposure levels of BPA arising from food and beverage in contact with non-degradable materials such as disposable water bottles, plastics, food containers including take-away packages, infant feeding bottles, and microwave ovenware, there is considerable uncertainty as to whether BPA has any effect on humans.
3. It is recognized that at much higher doses of exposure there may be potential harmful effects on humans, including producing skin hyper-sensitization response. However, there is no clear evidence that BPA interferes with immune function.
4. POPs, however, are extremely harmful to humans and the environment and there is no question about that. It leads to pollution of air, food and water, as well as production of non-degradable hazardous solid and toxic waste.
Recommendations
1. Immediate steps should be taken to ban the use of plastics as packaging materials and as containers.
2. Proper scientific ways should be found to reuse these non-degradable materials and recycle them by separating them into different types and refabricating their components as appropriate.
3. The harm caused by POPs is such that the laws banning or limiting their use should be strictly enforced.
4. It is our view that there are enough laws at the District Assemblies to deal with environmental sanitation issues and they must be strictly enforced.
5. There is insufficient evidence linking contact food with non-degradable materials at current exposure levels of BPA with any health hazard and we recommend further studies on the issue, especially on high dose exposures.
6. The general public is encouraged to cooperate with local government officials by adopting proper sanitation practices to minimize the negative effects of the use of non-biodegradable materials on health and the environment.

Dr Amofah George
General Secretary
Ghana Public Health Association
Tel. Number: 0244322843

John Kingsley Krugu
PRO, Ghana Public Health Association