Bhutanese policy makers, senior government officials and private sector executives were introduced to what is regarded as the oldest science in the world – toxicology – in an executive seminar led by Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn Mahidol of Thailand, on June 20 in Thimphu.
Toxicology is “the science of poisons� with a subject area that encompasses the study of all adverse effects of chemicals on living organisms. It basically studies the relationship between dose and its effects on the living organism.
Like most modern societies, Bhutan too is becoming increasingly dependent on chemicals in the form of medicines, food, food additives, house-hold items and also in agriculture and industry.
But this increasing use means greater exposure to its deleterious effects either directly or indirectly through the pollution of the natural environment.
“The knowledge of ‘toxicology’ is essential for the management and prevention of adverse effects and the toxicity of chemicals,� said Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn Mahidol, a professor and the president of the Chulabhorn Research Institute. “For developing countries with rapidly expanding industrialisation urgent attention must be given to the potential consequence of damage to the environment so that the benefits of industrialisation can be enjoyed without any adverse impacts.�
Organised by the Chulabhorn Research Institute of Thailand, the Bhutan Trust for Environmental Conservation (BTF) and the National Environment Commission (NEC) the seminar is also conducting a training course on toxicology.
Her Royal Highness and professors from Thailand, Denmark, USA and the UK will deliver a series of lectures on environmental toxicology for safe and sustainable development, the role of chemicals in environment, health, trade and development, management of chemicals and wastes and pollution control and management. The training is attended by about 50 participants from the health, environment and private sector. It began on June 21 and will end on June 26 with a panel discussion on how to use toxicology standards and risk assessment in policy making.
Citing the example of mercury poisoning in Japan where high level of mercury was found in the bodies of the fishermen, Her Royal Highness said that the problem of chemical wastes from pesticides was compounded by industrial waste.
Her Royal Highness said that in the less industrially developed countries in Southeast Asia the main environmental toxicological problems being addressed currently were water pollution caused by uncontrolled industrial effluents and urban air pollution caused by traffic and industrial discharge. Uncontrolled use of pesticides also resulted in toxic substances entering the food chain and causing groundwater contamination.
“Setting appropriate environmental standard for the whole country is one of the issues the regulatory agencies face when they are frequently faced with developmental challenges,� said Her Royal Highness. “It is important to recognize the relative ‘risk’ for the government to make the right decision.�
But inadequate infrastructure like qualified trained scientists, equipment and facilities limited the ability in developing countries to conduct research for evaluation and assessment of risk.
“Education and training in environmental toxicology, pollution control and pollution prevention is the corner stone of an environmental and public health management system,� said Her Royal Highness. Source: Kuenselonline
