A conference to review the UN-backed Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) was held in Punta del Este, Urugay, 2-6 May 2005.
POPs are some of the most dangerous all man-made products or wastes, which cause deaths, diseases and birth defects. They build up in fatty tissues and traces can be found in every person. The convention, which entered into force last year, therefore bans a ’dirty dozen’ of these highly hazardous substances. Of the 151 signatories to the convention 98 states have ratified it. The United States and Russia have not yet done so.
The participants pledged to move forward to reduce and eliminate these highly dangerous substances. In addition a POPs Review Committee was established that will be responsible for evaluating additional chemicals that can be added to the current list of 12. Its first meeting will be held in Geneva later this year and its recommendations forwarded to the future annual meetings of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention.
The WWF had propsed 20 chemicals to be added to the ’dirty dozen’, but only four candidates for review will be discussed by the Committee:
the flame retardant pentabromodiphenyl (proposed by Norway)
a group of chemicals known as hexachlorocyclohexanes, which include the pesticide lindane (proposed by Mexico)
the pesticide chlordecone and the flame retardant hexabromobiphenyl (proposed by the EU)
The conference also agreed on how to evaluate the Convention’s progress in reducing the levels of POPs in the environment. A system for requesting and registering temporary exemptions to the phase-out of certain chemicals was established.
Of the current ’dirty dozen’ the chemical DDT was recognised as being necessary to use in some 25 countries to combat malaria-carrying mosquitoes. An excemption for the termite killer mirex was also upheld. This was done because the harm done is considered less than if not using these chemicals. About 1 million people are killed by malaria yearly, and the damage done by termites is estimated to be $30 billion a year. The progress made in making safe, affordable and locally effective alternatives will be reviewed again in three years.
See the UN News Centre for more information on the Uruguay conference.
