Recent information reveals that the stockpile is to be shipped to France and Spain for final disposal. When the transboundary shipment permit from authorities in Guatemala is approved, it will be shipped overland through Costa Rica and Panama and finally reach its final destination in Europe.
Next, environmental authorities will investigate whether contamination at storage sites in Belize City and Belmopan has occurred. However, some scientific studies have already found residues from DDT and its derivate compounds in soils in Belize.
The effort is part of a project funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF). Belize is also trying to dispose roughly 6 tons of other Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB). More information about the current GEF project in Belize can be found here.
Learn more about UN Environment's work on DDT here.
Source: www.amandala.com
Photo: POPs contaminated materials to be shipped for disposal, The GEF
