IMPACTS

Environment and Social Development Organization – ESDO conducts consultations, webinars, workshops and meetings with government agencies, relevant stakeholders, project partners, industrial associations, health professionals, and multi-sector groups of people about the adverse effects of lead in paints and mercury in consumer products, dental amalgam and other hazardous toxic metals. Dialogue with policymakers, press briefings, mobile campaign policy, social media campaigns, and lobbying with the Governmental body are regular activities of ESDO. Awareness raising and educational campaigns are conducted among dental students, volunteers, researchers, green club members, and practitioners for eliminating lead in paint and mercury in dentistry.

ESDO has led several discussions and consultation sessions with BPMA regarding the second lead paint test and developed draft regulations for standard level of lead in paint up to 50 ppm and complete elimination of lead in 2015-2016. ESDO submitted a request letter jointly with BPMA for the standard level and BSTI also approved the request of enacting permissible limits of lead in household paints. Every year, since 2013 ESDO collect different brands of both decorative and industrial paints and send them to their international network for testing the lead concentration in those paints. Based on the results, ESDO does advocacy with policymakers almost every year during the International Lead Poisoning Week (ILLPW). During this, ILPPW ESDO involves its youth network to raise awareness of lead poisoning and grab the attention of the policymakers. These continuous advocacies and campaign resulted into standard for the lead content in decorative paint which is 90 ppm, set by BSTI. 

ESDO’s General Secretary Dr. Hossain Shahriar, Executive Director Siddika Sultana and its Chairperson had a meeting with the Ministry of Environment and Forest where the draft guidelines and petition submission on lead in paints were handed over to them.

Under the guidance and direction of ESDO’s Secretary General, Dr. Shahriar Hossain, ESDO organized a nationwide anti-polythene campaign in 1992, which involved the media and was supported by numerous organizations and public leaders. In 1999, the Ministry of Environment and Forest recognized the anti-polythene campaign as the most important national movement, while in 2000, the Ministry of Environment and Forest selected ESDO as the principal task force representative in pushing for a complete ban on polythene bags. ESDO received worldwide recognition for its commitment and for the success of the campaign – Australia, India, Pakistan, the United States of America, Japan, and European countries, have since either recognized or followed ESDO’s initiative. Every year on 3rd July anti polythene day is celebrated worldwide. Bangladesh is the first country where polythene bag has been banned. A major role behind it was played by ESDO. Like every year ESDO celebrated anti polythene day on 3rd July 2015. ESDO is regularly continuing its anti-polythene campaign through SMS campaigns, social media and website content updates.

A baseline study, field survey, direct interview, documentary, and case study were conducted to estimate the level of awareness of general people about mercury in consumer products. It has developed several IEC materials and distributed them in print and electronic media as a part of the educational program. ESDO developed two study reports based on Mercury containing products in Bangladesh and made an Annual Report in 2014. New posters, stickers and new festoons have been developed under the Mercury project in association with UNEP to spread the message of the health hazard of mercury. ESDO and United Nations for Environment Program (UNEP) jointly organized a workshop on “Reduction of the use of Mercury-containing Products in Bangladesh” on 17th December 2015.