HAZARDOUS WASTES IN EASTERN AND CENTRAL-EUROPE

The countries of Eastern and Central Europe have emerged from a politi cal system which for decades has ignored protection of human health fr om hazardous wastes. While the economies of the countries in this regi on are stretched, awareness and concern about hazardous waste issues a re a part of the new realities. At a recent conference sponsored in pa rt by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, represe ntatives of seven countries in the region described the status of haza rdous waste programs, issues of major concern, and steps being taken t o protect human health. This report summarizes the deliberations, outl ines some of the problems remaining in dealing with the legacy of the past, addressing the problems of the present, and providing a framewor k for future research and collaborative efforts.