The story of the Sambhavna Clinic, a non-profit holistic health clinic in Bhopal, India, built to treat those injured by the Union Carbide toxic gas release in 1984. enlarge video
Endosulfan facing global ban at Persistent Organic Pollutants meeting
The EU backs the recommendation but some countries such as India are strongly opposed. According to a news report broadly in favour of a ban. In October, the review committee advised world governments to include endosulfan in annex A of the convention, which lists substances that must be completely eliminated. The advice was based on a risk management evaluation launched in 2009.
According to green group IPEN, endosulfan is already being phased out or banned in more than 80 countries. Nearly half of them are developing countries. The EU banned the pesticide several years ago. The US is also taking action to end all uses.
Other issues to be discussed by the convention's parties this week include reporting and reviewing requirements for the use of lindane to treat head lice and scabies. The chemical was added to Stockholm's list of banned substances in 2009.
IPEN also urged governments to strengthen their efforts to reduce the use of pesticide DDT in combating malaria. The NGO, concerned about the lack of independent monitoring and illegal traffic, welcomed the creation of a global alliance for alternatives to DDT. Its first assembly was held in Geneva on Tuesday.
.In addition, IPEN called on meeting participants to back recommendations made by the review committee regarding certain substances added to Stockholm's POPs blacklist in recent years: brominated diphenyl ethers – used as flame retardants in plastics – and perfluorooctane sulphonates (PFOS), its salts and PFOSF.For example, to eliminate brominated diphenyl ethers from the waste stream as soon as possible, the review committee recommended separating articles containing the chemicals as soon as possible before recycling. Regarding PFOS, it said no landfilling should be allowed unless waste containing the chemical is properly treated.
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