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 U.S. university is assisting
Mongolian officials in decontaminating water used by the residents of
Khongor in central Mongolia.
Contaminants from area mining,
including cyanide, mercury and arsenic, have been found in ground and
water samples taken from the town. This has also resulted in attention
by the World Health Organization.
Responding to this crisis,
Baylor University in Waco, Texas created a program entitled, "Baylor
in Mongolia" in which U.S. scientists and researchers are working
to correct the problem.
Initial figures show, within
Khongor, 1,000 people in 70 percent of the homes have been sickened
by ground contaminants.
"It is significant because
Khongor is the first of perhaps many in this region with this same problem,"
said Dr. Rene Massengale, an assistant professor of biology at Baylor,
who is leading the project. "Baylor is now actively providing assistance
and responding to this emergency situation by partnering with organizations
to provide workable solutions."
Massengale and other Baylor
scientists are working with local government leaders in Mongolia and
two non-profit organizations - Lifeqwest Mongolia and Texas Baptist
Men - to bring medical supplies and home water purifying equipment to
Khongor.
Massengale notes that medical
supplies will provide a short-term solution to the problem. Phase two
of the project, which should begin in the summer, is a long-term environmental
clean up, but problems still persist.
"Baylor has a unique opportunity
to do what I call vocational science - doing science that makes a difference
globally," Massengale said. "In this particular area, we could
impact quality of life, human health and encourage responsible use of
the environment. Of course, all it takes is funding."
The Baylor study was commissioned
by Mr. Khayankhirvaa, the State Governor of Darkhan in northern Mongolia,
Mr. Gunchin Luvsandorj, the Presidium President of the Darkhan Aimag,
and Mrs. Batdulam Jambadoo, the Foreign Affairs Officer for the Darkhan
Aimag and special assistant to the State Governor of Darkhan, after
they toured Baylor in 2006. Massengale acted as one of their Baylor
tour guides during the visit and, after learning of her line of research
work, the dignitaries formally asked Massengale to lead a water quality
study in Khongor
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