[Pharmwaste] UN investigates possible ban on nine hazardous chemicals, including widely used pesticides and flame retardants

[Tenace, Laurie]

http://www.businessgreen.com/business-green/news/2241807/un-meeting-seek
s-hazardous 

UN meeting seeks hazardous chemicals ban
UN investigates possible ban on nine hazardous chemicals, including
widely used pesticides and flame retardants

Danny Bradbury, BusinessGreen, 07 May 2009 
Lawmakers are spotlighting nine hazardous chemicals for a potential ban
as part of a United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) meeting this
week.

The chemicals, commonly used as pesticides and flame retardants, could
join 12 already banned hazardous chemicals known as the "dirty dozen",
which were prohibited under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent
Organic Pollutants.

Any ban could have significant repercussions for the global agricultural
and consumer goods sectors, both of which continue to employ some of the
hazardous chemicals.

The infamous pesticide DDT will be on the hit list, as UNEP considers
whether or not to ban it in countries that still use it to kill
mosquitoes carrying malaria. "While the Convention targets DDT for
elimination, it recognises that some countries must still use this
pesticide to protect their citizens' health, " officials said in a
statement.

Rather than simply banning the nine chemicals, the meeting will consider
ways to mitigate the effects of not using them and attempt to identify
viable alternatives.

UNEP said it will try to assess safer alternatives and will also argue
that technical and financial resources must be given to countries to
help them meet their obligations to ban the chemicals.

The chemicals under scrutiny are Alpha hexachlorocyclohexane; Beta
hexachlorocyclohexane; Hexabromodiphenyl ether and heptabromodiphenyl
ether; Tetrabromodiphenyl ether and pentabromodiphenyl ether;
Chlordecone; Hexabromobiphenyl; Lindane; Pentachlorobenzene;
Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, its salts and perfluorooctane sulfonyl
fluoride.



Deborah L. DeBiasi 
Email:   Deborah.DeBiasi at deq.virginia.gov (NEW!)
WEB site address:  www.deq.virginia.gov 
Virginia Department of Environmental Quality 
Office of Water Permit Programs 
Industrial Pretreatment/Toxics Management Program 
PPCPs, EDCs, and Microconstituents 
Mail:          P.O. Box 1105, Richmond, VA  23218 (NEW!) 
Location:  629 E. Main Street, Richmond, VA  23219 
PH:         804-698-4028 
FAX:      804-698-4032



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