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University of Tokyo students and lecturers visit PNGIMR
By Douglas Diave

Two academics and five students from the University of Tokyo visited the PNGIMR headquarters in Goroka for a 10 day research program.

University of tokyo lecturers and students with the pcv project group

The group’s visit is part of the EASTPNG study (Evaluation and Alleviation of Environmental Burden due to Subsistence Transition in Papua New Guinea), an International project that is concerned with explaining the health impacts of east Asian pacific countries due to the transition of traditional to modern subsistence agriculture.

Papua New Guinea is one of those countries among Vietnam, Indonesia, China, Bangladesh, and Nepal, whom are in this study.

The purpose of this study is to clarify the health impacts on people’s lives particularly with the introduction of chemicals such as pesticides and herbicides into the natural eco system.

The students performed preliminary analysis in the fields and the data collected would be sent to three laboratories in Japan for further analysis.

Team leader and associate professor of the Department of Human Ecology at the University of Tokyo, Dr Masahiro Umezaki, said that people in PNG benefit a lot from cash crops and vegetables that they use pesticides and herbicides to help them in farming.

“There are no good rules on how to use these chemicals. Sometimes the didiman, explain and train people on how to use thess chemicals but most people do not follow instrusctions well. They do not have good information about the health impacts so there is improper use of these pesticides. Our study clarifies to what extent people are exposed to these chemicals and the expected health impacts of their exposure. So by showing data, we can give some recommendations on how to use these pesticides and on what measures must be taken to reduce exposures,” he added.