International toxics treaty comes into force today
17 May 2004
An international treaty to ban the world's most toxic and hazardous chemicals comes into force today, May 17th 2004. The Stockholm Convention for Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) aims to rid the world of some of the most toxic chemicals ever produced.
The so called 'dirty dozen' are comprised of eight pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (used in electrical transformers), dioxins and furans.
"The initial twelve POPs chemicals, known as 'poisons without passports', pose particular hazards because of their common characteristics. They are toxic and can cause nervous system damage, diseases of the immune system, reproductive and developmental disorders, as well as cancers. They last a long time in the environment and with their high fat solubility, accumulate in the body fat of people, marine mammals, and other wildlife. POPs are then passed from mother to the foetus in the womb and to the child through breastmilk," said Dr Mariann Lloyd-Smith, Coordinator of the National Toxic Network and Australian representative of the International POPs Elimination network.
Formal work on the Stockholm Convention commenced in 1995 and was concluded in 2001 at Stockholm, Sweden and signed by over a hundred countries including Australia. The Convention came in to force once the governments of 50 countries had formally ratified it. Australia has not ratified as yet, but is likely to do so in the coming days.
"The implementation of the Stockholm Convention will bring to an end the global use and trade of the eight POPs pesticides, a very positive step by the global community," said Dr David Butcher, Chief Executive Officer of WWF-Australia.
"The Stockholm Convention requires countries to develop an action plan for dioxins and once ratified Australia will need to address its sources of dioxins, such as hazardous waste destruction, cement kilns and smelting, as well as managing contaminated sites such as disused cattle tick dips," said Dr Butcher.
While Australia had addressed the management and destruction of most of its POPs pesticides in the 1990s, it has requested an exemption for the continued use of Mirex, a toxic POPs insecticide still used in termite control for mangoes in Northern Territory.
"The Stockholm Convention was never intended to be static and new chemicals will be added to the list. At least three groups of persistent bioaccumulative toxic chemicals - phthalates, brominated flame retardants and perfluorochemicals - have recently been identified through monitoring of blood, breast milk and newborns as being chemicals of concern," said Dr Lloyd-Smith. "All three of these chemical groups are used in Australia," concluded Dr Lloyd-Smith.
Notes to Editors:
The 12 chemicals banned by the Stockholm Convention are aldrin, dieldrin, chlordane, toxaphene, mirex, endrin, heptachlor, hexachlorbenzene, DDT, PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) and dioxins and furans.
The Stockholm Convention has a provision for the ongoing use of DDT by some countries for use in the control of malaria.
Phthalates are used as softeners in PVC products like toys and flooring as well as in personal products like cosmetics and perfumes. Phthalates are implicated in reproductive damage and endocrine disruption.
Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) are used in plastics, foams and components of electrical and electronic goods. These often end up being incinerated at the end of their use life resulting in the production of brominated dioxins and furans. BFRs have been associated with cancer and reproductive damage.
Perfluorochemicals are heat resistant, stable compounds that are used in a range of applications including non-stick pans, water & stain repellent properties for clothing & furniture, floor waxes and paper coatings. Perfluorochemicals are implicated in reproductive damage and were detected in 100% of a US sample of nearly 600 children, aged 2-12 years.
For media enquiries call:
Andy Ridley, WWF Senior Manager Communications. Ph: +61 2 8202 1237, 0415 865 992 or aridley@wwf.org.au
