December 4, 1995
International Actions to Restrict POPs
Nations are starting to work together on several fronts to
develop legally binding agreements to restrict and, in some
cases, to ban the use of 12 persistent organic pollutants
(POPs), including seven of PAN's Dirty Dozen pesticides. Much
of the discussion to date has focused on DDT, aldrin,
dieldrin, endrin, chlordane, heptachlor, mirex,
hexachlorobenzene (HCB), toxaphene, dioxins, furans and PCBs.
POPs have been shown to cause serious immune and metabolic
effects, neurological defects, reproductive anomalies and
cancer in both humans and wildlife. In addition, persistent
organic pollutants are highly toxic, remain in the
environment for long periods, bioaccumulate (become more
concentrated as they rise in the food chain), and can spread
thousands of miles from the point of emission.
Because increasing evidence shows that POPs are a global
problem, national and even regional actions to eliminate
these chemicals are not enough. For example, toxaphene,
widely used as an insecticide on cotton in the Caribbean and
Central America, is carried across the Atlantic by the Gulf
Stream, and can be found in significant amounts in the
northern North Sea.
In June 1995, an experts meeting on POPs, jointly organized
by Canada and the Philippines, was held in Vancouver. At that
meeting, over 100 participants agreed that enough scientific
knowledge currently exists on the adverse human health and
environmental impacts of POPs to warrant immediate national,
regional and international action -- including bans and
phaseouts. Participants also underscored the need for
strategies for more effective global management of these
toxic chemicals. (See PANUPS, August 21, 1995.)
Recently, another conference of environmental experts from
102 countries called for new global controls on POPs. Meeting
in Washington DC in late October, the Intergovernmental
Conference on Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-
Based Activities urged industrial and developing countries to
negotiate an international treaty to eliminate persistent
organic pollutants from the world's oceans. Delegates
supported a commitment to develop a global, legally binding
instrument "to reduce and/or eliminate emissions, discharges
and, where appropriate, eliminate the manufacture and use of
POPs." The resulting Washington Declaration, which focused on
the 12 POPs mentioned above, emphasized that developing
countries will need assistance in phasing out POPs and
switching to more sustainable alternatives.
Also in October, representatives of the three North American
Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) countries agreed on a resolution
to phase out or ban these same 12 persistent organic
pollutants. The resolution, which was drafted at a meeting of
NAFTA's Council on Environmental Cooperation, states that
activities to deal with POPs "could encompass both regulatory
and non-regulatory measures, such as promotion of the use of
cleaner products and technologies; emission inventories;
product labeling; use limitations, economic incentives; and
phasing out or banning of toxic chemicals" that are
persistent organic pollutants. The resolution provides for
establishment of a working group to develop a short list of
three POPs in addition to PCBs for which regional action
plans will be prepared by January 15, 1996. Regional action
plans for each of the designated persistent and toxic
substances on this short list will be submitted to the
Council on Environmental Cooperation by December 15, 1996.
The UN Environment Programme (UNEP), on behalf of the Inter-
Organization Programme for the Sound Management of Chemicals
(IOMC), has also established a working group to "assist with
the speedy assessment of existing knowledge on these toxic
chemicals, the socio-economic impact of their reduction or
elimination, possible substitutes and realistic response
strategies." The IOMC Working Group will consolidate existing
information on the chemistry and toxicology of persistent
pollutants, as well as sources and ways in which they are
transported. It will also examine availability and cost-
effectiveness of possible alternatives, and recommend
"realistic response strategies." According to UNEP, the
Working Group will be comprised of representatives from each
UN regional grouping, along with participants from industry
associations and NGOs. A June 1996 meeting in the Philippines
has been set to finalize the group's recommendations.
Many experts agree that enough already is known to require
urgent action; in many cases viable alternatives already
exist, and others must and can be developed. While agreements
and declarations highlight the threat that persistent organic
pollutants present, governments must move beyond discussions,
working groups and risk assessments and commit to clear and
decisive action to eliminate production and use of persistent
organic pollutants.
Sources: Global Pesticide Campaigner, December 1995; Global
Ban on Persistent Toxic Chemicals, Greenpeace International,
September 1995; Pesticide & Toxic Chemical News, November 1,
1995, and November 8, 1995; UNEP press release, October 31,
1995.
Contact: PANNA and Greenpeace, 1436 U Street, NW, Washington
DC 20009; phone (202) 462-1177; fax (202) 462-4507.
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