Bangladesh: Toxic Tanneries Expose Workers to Extreme Health Hazards

October 09, 2012 from Human Rights Watch

Workers in many leather tanneries in the Hazaribagh neighborhood of Dhaka, Bangladesh, including children as young as 11, become ill because of exposure to hazardous chemicals and are injured in horrific workplace accidents. The tanneries, which export hundreds of millions of dollars in leather for luxury goods throughout the world, spew pollutants into surrounding communities. Residents of Hazaribagh slums complain of illnesses such as fevers, skin diseases, respiratory problems and diarrhea, caused by the extreme tannery pollution of air, water, and soil. The government has not protected the right to health of the workers and residents, has consistently failed to enforce labor or environmental laws in Hazaribagh and has ignored High Court orders to clean up these tanneries, Human Rights Watch found.

(more) (less)

In This Video

Tanning

Tanning is the process of treating skins of animals to produce leather, which is more durable and less susceptible to decomposition. Traditionally, tanning used tannin, an acidic chemical compound from which the tanning process draws its name. Coloring may occur during tanning... Explore this topic

Leather

Leather is a durable and flexible material created by the tanning of animal rawhide and skin, often cattle hide. It can be produced through manufacturing processes ranging from cottage industry to heavy industry. Explore this topic

Hazaribagh Thana

Hazaribagh is an principal area of Dhaka Metro. It's an ancient area built during Mughal period. Hazaribagh is a part of Old Dhaka. At present days, it has become an industrial area. Bangladesh's largest leather processing zone is situated here. This area is situated near the ... Explore this topic

Bangladesh

Bangladesh officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh, is a country in South Asia. It is located on the fertile Ganges-Brahmaputra delta and forms part of the ancient and historic region of Bengal. The name Bangladesh means "Country of Bengal" in the official Bengali langu... Explore this topic

Dhaka

Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh. Dhaka is a megacity and one of the major cities of South Asia. Located on the east banks of the Buriganga River in the Ganges Delta, Dhaka has an estimated population of more than 12 million people as of 2008, making it the largest city in B... Explore this topic

Luxury good

Luxury goods are products and services that are not considered essential and are associated with affluence. The concept of luxury has been present in various forms since the beginning of civilization. Its role was just as important in ancient western and eastern empires as it ... Explore this topic

Right to health

The right to health is the economic, social and cultural right to the highest attainable standard of health. It is recognised in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the Convention on the Rights of Person... Explore this topic

Poverty in Bangladesh

Bangladesh is one of the world's most densely populated countries with 150 million people, 49 percent of whom live below the national poverty line. In addition, child malnutrition rate rates of 48 percent, in condition that is tied to the low social status of women in Banglade... Explore this topic

Cutaneous conditions

A cutaneous condition is any medical condition that affects the integumentary system — the organ system that encloses the body and includes skin, hair, nails, and related muscle and glands. The major function of this system is as a barrier against the external environment. Con... Explore this topic

Environmental law

Environmental law is a collective term describing international treaties, statutes, regulations, and common law or national legislation that operates to regulate the interaction of humanity and the natural environment, toward the purpose of reducing the impacts of human activi... Explore this topic

Also See

Tanning

Leather

Hazaribagh Thana

Watch Next

5:45

Tragedy in Bangladesh: Retailers Seek Amends for 1,100 Dead

LinkAsia | May 17

The government of Bangladesh and Western retailers are making steps towards improving work conditions in the country, three weeks after a factory c...