CBRN risk management in school sanitary facilities in Kinshasa: a documentary review of health risks and assessment perspectives

Abstract

Purpose: This documentary review critically synthesises knowledge on chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) risk management in school sanitary facilities in Kinshasa, and proposes assessment perspectives prior to sample collection. It reframes school sanitation deficiencies as a governance and management problem rather than a purely technical public health issue.

Methodology/Approach: A systematic documentary search was conducted in PubMed, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, SpringerLink, and documentation from WHO, UNICEF, the World Bank, and Congolese national institutions (1980–2026). Keywords included school sanitation, WASH, CBRN risks, Kinshasa, hygiene, water quality, and health risks. A thematic analysis organised the material into five axes: state of facilities; documented health risks; potential CBRN risks; regulatory and institutional framework; and assessment perspectives.

Findings: Only 54% of Kinshasa schools have a water point (73% urban vs 23% peri-urban; p = 0.000). Latrine coverage is 96.88%, but only 3.6% are considered hygienic. Identified CBRN risks include chemical risks (chlorinated cleaning products, heavy metals in water and soil), biological risks (enteric pathogens, microbial proliferation, antimicrobial resistance), and potential radiological risks (natural radionuclides in groundwater). Degraded facilities act as contamination hotspots, exposing students to urogenital infections, diarrhoeal diseases, and typhoid fever.

Practical implications: The study provides a prioritisation matrix to guide resource allocation by educational and health authorities, and proposes a stepwise sampling protocol (preliminary characterisation, sample collection, analysis and interpretation) applicable to Kinshasa schools. It argues that managerial accountability and WASH budgeting are the primary levers for risk reduction.

Originality/value: This is the first review to integrate the CBRN dimension into the management analysis of school sanitary facilities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, offering an actionable framework for decision-makers.

Keywords: school sanitary facilities, CBRN risks, Kinshasa, WASH governance, school health, risk management.

Received Date: August 17, 2026

Accepted Date: September 09, 2026

Published Date: October 01, 2026

Available Online at: https://www.ijsrisjournal.com/index.php/ojsfiles/article/view/994