Technology-based environmental health risks in developing nations

Technology-based environmental health risks in developing nations

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Article ID: iaor1990190
Country: United States
Volume: 37
Issue: 2
Start Page Number: 159
End Page Number: 179
Publication Date: Apr 1990
Journal: Technological Forecasting & Social Change
Authors: ,
Keywords: developing countries
Abstract:

This paper addresses two questions: (1) To what extent are developing nations vulnerable to technology-related environmental health risks? (2) To what extent does the export of hazardous technologies and products contribute to overall levels of environmental health risk in developing nations? The paper focuses on three major types of environmental health risks: the failure of large-scale technological systems; the use or misuse of consumer goods, mechanical devices, and chemicals; and industrial emissions of toxic substances. In addition, three categories of harzardous exports are examined: hazardous products (e.g., pesticides), hazardous production processes (e.g., asbestos processing), and hazardous wastes (e.g., chemical and radioactive waste). The paper concludes that technology-based environment health risks pose a significant public health problem in most developing nations, even when compared to much larger public health problems such as tropical and gastrointestinal diseases. Technology-based risks are growing in number and frequency. If developing and developed nations continue their current policies, these risks will grow at a signficantly greater rate.

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