Nairobi: Kenya and Denmark have partnered in a research initiative that is set to investigate the hidden health risks posed by dumpsites, focusing on heavy metals, antimicrobial resistance, harmful bacteria, and their movement through food systems, water sources, and communities living nearby. The project brings together a consortium of Kenyan and Danish institutions under a ‘One Health’ approach that integrates human, animal, and environmental health.
According to Kenya News Agency, Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO) Deputy Institute Director at the Veterinary Science Research Institute Dr. Moses Olum explained that the consortium includes the Technical University of Denmark and the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS), alongside Kenyan partners such as the University of Nairobi and other collaborating institutions. Speaking in Nairobi during a stakeholder engagement meeting and project launch, Dr. Olum highlighted that the research will focus on major urban centers, including Nairobi, Mombasa, and Kisumu.
Dr. Olum stated that the project brings together multidisciplinary experts who are able to work across human health, animal health, and environmental health, emphasizing the ‘One Health’ project approach. Dumpsites receive waste from various human activities, including industrial, commercial, and household sources. While bacteria decompose the waste, toxic heavy metals such as lead persist in the environment.
Communities near dumpsites often rely on these areas for their livelihoods, as they become informal economic zones. The research will examine how animals feeding on dumpsites accumulate heavy metals and bacteria, which are then transferred to humans through meat, vegetables, and water. Unlike bacteria, heavy metals cannot be destroyed by cooking.
Anker H¸iberg, a senior researcher at GEUS, mentioned that the research would track how contaminants move from dumpsites into surface water and groundwater, potentially affecting communities far from the original waste sites. The project aims to quantify levels of heavy metals in waste, livestock, and humans and assess bacterial contamination and antibiotic resistance.
Eric Ogalo, a program officer at the Royal Danish Embassy in Nairobi, said the study is funded through Denmark’s Strategic Sector Cooperation (SSC) program, a government-to-government partnership with Kenya. The research is seen as crucial for developing programs and policies backed by evidence, protecting waste pickers and nearby communities from invisible health risks.
The project is funded with approximately 10 million Danish kroner (approximately Sh200 million) over five years, supporting research, training, fieldwork, and policy engagement. Findings will support Kenya’s Sustainable Waste Management Act of 2022 and promote a shift from a linear to a circular economy.
Researchers emphasize the importance of practical solutions, such as separating food production from dumpsites, using protective gear for waste workers, and better zoning of livestock and agriculture. The project aims to provide scientific evidence to guide safer waste management, protect food systems, and reduce long-term health risks for vulnerable communities as Kenya faces rapid urbanization and growing waste challenges.
