In preparation for the 12th meeting of the Stockholm Convention's POPs Review Committee (POPRC), which will take place 19 – 23 September in Rome, IPEN has developed a Quick Guide to IPEN Views on POPRC12 (English and français). This document highlights IPEN's views on issues that the Committee will tackle at the meeting, including formal recommendations for listing two chemicals in the treaty: DecaBDE (flame retardant widely present in e-waste) and short-chained chlorinated paraffins (used in metalworking, and as flame retardants in PVC consumer products).
IPEN has joined numerous other environmental and health organizations in sending a letter to European government representatives relating to a draft regulation that it will soon present to the REACH Committee about the restriction of PFOA, its salts and PFOA-related substances.
PFOA is classified as toxic for reproduction (category 1B), affects cholesterol levels and may cause cancer in humans. A recent published study from the C8 Health Project survey showed a dose-related increase in both kidney and testicular cancer with PFOA among 32,254 participants. It is so persistent, that there are no measurable environmental half-lives.
Florence, Italy. Some toys that are designed to exercise the mind may contain toxic chemicals from recyled electronic waste, which can damage the central nervous system and reduce children’s intellectual capacity.
IPEN (a global civil society network promoting safe chemicals policies and practices) and Arnika (an environmental organization in the Czech Republic) aired this observation following the announcement of the results of a global survey on toxic chemicals in brain toys at a scientific conference on persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in Florence, Italy.
(Beijing, China) High levels of dioxins and similar dangerous pollutants were found in free range chicken eggs samples taken close to waste incinerators and other industrial hot spots in six localities in China, according to a new study released today. Chicken eggs are an important part of the Chinese diet, and the study warned that contamination found in the egg samples represents a serious threat to the public health of populations living in these locations.
IPEN representatives are currently attending the 10th Basel Convention Open-Ended Working Group meeting (OEWG-10) in Nairobi, Kenya. A range of issues are being discussed, including Low POPs Content Values for POPs waste, which is a critical issue for preventing the spread of POPs into consumer products and the environment.
