by Michael Hone
American Federal Bureau of Investigation to join probe of medical waste shipments to Brazil
RECIFE, Pernambuco – The Secretary of Social Defense of Pernambuco, Wilson Damazio, said on Wednesday that the American Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the American Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will assist Brazilian authorities as they investigate the shipment of at least 46 tons of hazardous hospital medical waste from the Port of Charleston, South Carolina to the Port of Suape, Pernambuco.
Damazio says he has spoken to the U.S. consul for the Northeast of Brazil, Usha Pitts, and to the FBI attache at the American embassy in Brasilia. “The U.S. government is willing to cooperate in any way possible, through the FBI and the EPA, whose mission is similar to IBAMA here in Brazil,” he told the Globo network. According to him, arrangements are being made with the Americans. “They may even send investigators to Recife to assist,” he says.
Investigators have found sheets bearing the markings of the “Hospital Central Services Cooperative” and “U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs,” that are believed to be medical waste, being used in budget hotels in Pernambuco. Other textiles believed to also be medical waste have been found for sale in stores around the state and in the neighboring state of Paraiba.
Police are investigating the company that imported the medical waste for environmental crimes, making false declarations to customs officials and endangering public health. Investigators believe that at least some of the material was being used at two clothing manufacturers to make pockets for blue jeans. Pernambuco manufactures 60% of the blue jeans sold in Brazil.
Anybody who suspects that they purchased any of these items are urged to contact the Health Surveillance Agency toll-free at 0800-282-5919.
Read also: More Articles from Brazil Dispatch
Brazilian online news source for this article: O Globo
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