Japan: Many Issues Impacting Public’s Health Still to be Resolved in Mercury Treaty Talks
CACP, HCWH, IPEN Press Release – Delegates from more than 120 countries discussed actions to address sources of mercury pollution as they worked this week to negotiate a binding global mercury treaty. However, many issues must still be resolved before a comprehensive agreement protecting public health and truly honoring the proposal to name the treaty, the Minamata Convention, is assured.  more

Saudi Arabia: Drinking Water Contaminated With Hazardous Medical Waste
Saudi Gazette – Residents of Al-Farsha Center, an affiliate of Sourat Obaida Governorate, have found a large quantity of medical waste dumped near Al-Farsha Valley, which is the only source of drinking water in the region. more

Pune: Sick Hospital Infects Staffers
Pune Mirror – For the last three months, employees have fallen ill from contaminated water and diseases spread by uncleared medical garbage bins and clogged open drains in and around the vast complex. more

Philippines: Solon Warns on Polyvinyl Chloride Goods
TKKN – Citing the harmful effects of polyvinyl chloride products, which are widely used plastic in medical devices, a lady lawmaker is compelling all manufacturers to consistently label all PVC products including medical devices. House Bill 1924, principally authored by Rep. Mary Mitzi Cajayon seeks to protect the public from the harmful effects of PVC products. Cajayon cited the warning of the Health Care Without Harmon the effects of PVC. more

France: French Dentists Move Away From Mercury Fillings
The Guardian – Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Germany have banned or restricted use of the fillings. The European commission may soon call for their phasing out. more

Europe: EU Ban on BPA in Baby Bottles Hits Statute Book
ENDS Europe – Member states had until 15 February to transpose into national law a directive banning chemical bisphenol A (BPA) in baby bottles. more

US: NIH Panel Links Vitamin A in Sunscreen to Skin Tumors
EWG – A key independent science advisory panel has voted to confirm federal researchers' conclusion that retinyl palmitate, a form of vitamin A found in two-fifths of U.S. sunscreens, speeds the development of skin tumors and lesions when applied to the skin in the presence of sunlight. more

Indonesia: Climate Change Increases Health Risks
The Jakarta Post – Climate change has contributed to people’s susceptibility to skin cancer, respiratory problems and other diseases. According to Health Ministry director general of disease control and environmental sanitation Tjandra Yoga Aditama, the depleting ozone layer had increased the risk of skin cancer for people in Indonesia. Tjandra said the Health Ministry would conduct a study to assess the impact of waterborne, vector-borne, airborne and non-communicable diseases in the country.  more

Delhi: E-Waste Magnet Delhi Struggling to Cope
Management World – Delhi is struggling to process and store the vast quantities of electronic waste that are still flooding into India's capital city. The city receives over 200,000 tonnes of e-waste from all over the country, which is stored, dismantled and sold, posing a huge health and environment risk to all those who come in contact with it. more

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