April - June 2005
1. PAN Europe activities
Advance notice of PAN Europe
Annual Conference 2005
In collaboration with Friends of the Earth Poland/Polish Ecological
Club we will be holding our Network Annual Conference for members
and other supporters Friday 4 and Saturday 5 November 2005
in Krakow, Poland. We expect that the Annual Conference
and related events will provide the opportunity to raise the profile
of PAN Europe and pesticide use in Poland and other Eastern European
countries as well as to address regional pesticide issues.
Public consultation on
the EU Thematic Strategy on the Sustainable Use of Pesticides
The European Commission is currently finalising its proposal
to be published in September 2005. PAN Europe called upon its partners
to participate in the consultation exercise launched by the EC to
avoid it resulting in an even weaker Thematic Strategy proposal.
The Thematic Strategy on Pesticides aims to set out an integrated
approach on “sustainable use” of pesticides which will
address the use phase of pesticides and include the review of Directive
91/414/EEC on plant protection products authorisation.
Before the finalisation of the draft proposal on the use phase
of pesticides part, DG Environment launched an online consultation
called “The sustainable use of pesticides: Interactive Policy
Making (IPM)”.
This exercise is intended for stakeholders at large including the
general public (individuals) and the deadline for the consultation
expired on 12th May. But as the design of the questions and the
limited choice of proposed answers did not allow in several instances
to reflect different and more nuanced opinions, we invited our partners
to complete the online consultation questionnaire using PAN Europe’s
proposed answers and to send a complementary letter to the Head
of Unit B4 Biotechnology and Pesticides, DG Environment. The purpose
was to express our frustration about the limited design of the questions
and choice of proposed answers for the consultation exercise and
to send additional comments that best expressed our views.
Additional points raised by PAN Europe included: training and awareness
raising; compulsory control and standardisation of application equipment;
specific measures on aerial spraying (we continue to argue for a
phased total ban of aerial spraying without exceptions); areas of
strongly reduced or zero pesticide use (vulnerable zones where the
use of pesticides has to be restricted or banned); compliance controls;
monitoring and reporting; comparative assessment and substitution
principle, Integrated Pest Management; taxation (a pesticides tax
is essential in our opinion).
More than 17 PAN Europe partners, from 11 different countries, responded
to the online consultation questionnaire and sent a complementary
letter to DG Environment.
Lobbying against the inclusion of chlorpyrifos on the
EU pesticides positive list
The European Commission proposed the inclusion of chlorpyrifos in
Annex I to Council Directive 91/414/EEC in the meeting of the Standing
Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Safety, held 2-3 June, despite
strong evidence of harmful effects to the environment and human
health, especially to children and the unborn.
We called upon our partners to lobby their national representatives
in the Standing Committee in order to prevent the inclusion of this
hazardous insecticide in the EU pesticides positive list.
We asked our partners to contact their national representative before
the meeting with a letter and a fact sheet prepared by PAN Europe
and to send a copy to the Head of the Food Safety Directorate from
DG Health and Consumer Protection.
The agenda and summary report of the meeting can be found at the Europa website
More than 13 PAN Europe partners, from 10 different countries,
responded to this call for action translating documents and contacting
their national representatives. Unfortunately, a majority of countries
voted for the inclusion of chlorpyrifos, setting off the EU in the
opposite direction of other countries like the USA that has introduced
severe restrictions on the use of this substance.
Public consultation on the revision of Directive 91/414/CEE
regarding the placing of PPP on the market
The European Commission launched in March another Interactive Policy
Making consultation entitled "The future of pesticides in Europe"
with a deadline for responses by May. Although in favour of consultations,
PAN Europe believes that the format of this consultation was inadequate.
Most questions were to be answered by multiple choice, which does
not do justice to the intensive input we wished to provide and poses
the question which audience DG SANCO tries to reach and how the
outcome of this consultation will be assessed. The questions in
the consultation were very one-sided, covering only an industry
agenda, and almost excluded serious input from environmental stakeholders.
The Commission, selecting just the very two items (data protection
and geographical zones for authorisation) industry is interested
in for a public consultation, gave a misleading idea of the discussions
around 91/414 revision and tended to address only one specific stakeholder.
PAN Europe chose not to participate in this consultation but was
pleased to receive the draft Directive for detailed consultation.
Despite the very short time available for comments, which does not
do justice to the interest and dedication we have shown during the
entire revision process, PAN Europe made concrete proposals for
alteration of the draft proposal and sent a summary to DG SANCO.
Pesticides and congenital diseases
Catherine Wattiez, PAN Europe Pesticides Use Reduction in Europe
(PURE) campaigner, participated in the workshop entitled "Environmental
impacts on congenital disease", held on 9-11 June on Kos Island,
Greece. The workshop was organised by the AREHNA project, lead by
several independent academic physicians/toxicologists/cellular biologists
from various EU countries and coordinated by Prof. Nicolopoulou
- Stamati of the University of Athens. AREHNA means "Awareness
Raising about Environment and Health of Non expert Advisors".
The AREHNA project is the continuation of the ASPIS (Awareness Strategies
for Pollution from Industries) cluster of projects, and is financed
by DG SANCO of the European Commission. It aims to stimulate multidisciplinary
dialogue, to communicate new toxicology findings to various key
non-expert players and, as a consequence, contribute to adapt the
current legislation in order to guarantee a high level of heath
protection.
Pesticides impacts on congenital diseases were highlighted in several
presentations to be found at http://www.arehna.di.uoa.gr.
The presentations are the basis for a book to be published in 2006
by Springer Verlag publishers, containing a foreword by Frédérique
Ries, Belgian Member of the European Parliament and rapporteur of
the February 2005 own initiative European Parliament Resolution
criticizing the European Environment and Health Action Plan and,
among others, the lack of immediate action regarding pesticides.
EU pesticide policy in the Mediterranean Social Forum
The Mediterranean Social Forum took place from 16-19 June in Barcelona,
Spain and was organised around 7 topics (Democracy, citizenship
and human rights; Conflicts, military occupations, militarism and
peace; Economic, social-cultural rights, development models, work
and conflicts; Migrations; Cultural diversity and transcultural
dialogues; Development model and environmental sustainability; Women
and the Mediterranean). Amics de
la Terra Barcelona (PAN Europe network member) were involved
in the organisation and prepared several seminars, part of the Campaign
against Chemical Contamination. The seminar “Debate and Analysis
of the Future Thematic Strategy for a Sustainable Use of Pesticides”
had the participation of Sofia Parente, PAN Europe coordinator who
addressed the importance of NGO work in the final adoption and subsequent
national implementation of the Thematic Strategy on the Sustainable
Use of Pesticides in the months ahead.
The event also enabled PAN Europe to strengthen the growing network
of Spanish organisations working in pesticide issues. Amics de la
Terra Barcelona are co-organising, together with the Spanish Government,
a national seminar directed to the Regional Authorities on the implementation
of the EU Thematic Strategy later this year, an event that will
count with the support and participation of PAN Europe.
2. Published news and information
Withdrawal of active ingredients in EU review
The EU Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCFCAH)
has voted for the withdrawal of the organophosphate insecticide,
naled, in the EU. This substance gets PAN North America "Bad
Actor" status for being a potential cholinesterase inhibitor
and developmental or reproductive toxin. It also comprises moderate
acute toxicity.
The EU is also to withdraw approvals for four fungicide/bactericide
active ingredients, cresylic acid, dichlorophen ("Bad Actor"
status for being a developmental or reproductive toxin and possibly
carcinogen), kasugamycin and polyoxin, and one herbicide, imazamethabenz,
due to insufficient data submitted. Current registrations are to
be withdrawn by September 2005, with a one-year period for the sale
and use of remaining stocks. However, certain essential uses may
continue for an extended period. In some countries, Member State
evaluations have indicated that there are no alternatives for certain
uses of these active ingredients. Approval for these “essential”
uses will be extended until June 2007, with a use period up to December
2007, provided that these products are relabelled for the restricted
uses, and alternatives to these active ingredients are sought.
Approval of active ingredients in EU review
The SCFCAH also agreed on the inclusion of 7 existing active
substances: the phenoxy herbicides, MCPA (“Bad Actor
“ status for being acute toxic and possibly carcinogen), and
MCPB; the insecticides chlorpyrifos (“Bad Actor “ status
for being a cholinesterase inhibitor and suspected endocrine disrupter)
and chlorpyrifos-methyl (“Bad Actor “ status for being
a cholinesterase inhibitor); and the fungicides mancozeb (“Bad
Actor “ status for being a developmental or reproductive toxin,
carcinogen and a suspected endocrine disruptor), maneb (“Bad
Actor “ status for being a developmental or reproductive toxin,
carcinogen and a suspected endocrine disruptor) and metiram (“Bad
Actor “ status for being a developmental or reproductive toxin,
carcinogen, suspected endocrine disruptor and potential groundwater
contaminant).
Two new active substances were added to Annex 1:
the acaricide bifenazate and the acaricide/insecticide milbemectin.
Italy suspends five active ingredients
The sale of products containing five agrochemical active ingredients
has been suspended in Italy pending the completion of their reviews
for Annex I inclusion under the EU Directive 91/414. Registrations
were suspended for suspected carcinogenity or toxicity risks to
humans or animals for: BASF’s fungicide flusilazole; Dow AgroSciences’
fungicide/acaricide dinocap; and the rodenticide warfarin. Companies
have 90 days from the day after the decrees’ publication dates
(14th-17th of March) to withdraw products containing these active
ingredients from the market. Italy’s temporary registration
suspensions will be reviewed depending on, and following, the inclusion
in Annex I of the Directive. The outcomes of the active ingredients
reviews are expected before the end of 2005. Sale of the products
will continue in other countries.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and Multiple Chemical
Sensitivity (MCS) from exposure to pesticides
A team of researchers from the Clinical Hospital of Barcelona (University
of Barcelona) studied a consecutive series of 26 patients that developed
CFS from exposure to organophosphate insecticides, associated with
MCS in one third of the cases. The exposure happened in the work
place, after fumigation took place. In 42% of the cases there was
no compliance with safety rules, particularly regarding the period
between fumigation and reoccupation of the place. Most patients
were middle-aged women. The duration of the symptoms varied between
less than 1year (19% of the cases) to more than 1 year (58% of the
cases), and in 23% of cases, the patients’ exposure resulted
in permanent incapacity.
The study concludes about the importance of improving isolation
and ventilation of areas treated with pesticides in order to avoid
such hazards. None of the patients presented symptoms of acute intoxication
by organophosphate pesticides, which suggests that exposure to low
doses of these insecticides is sufficient to start CFS-MCS.
Pesticide residues in more than one third of fruits
and vegetables
Only 60% of every fruit or vegetable consumed by European citizens
is free from pesticide residues; 36% have residue levels below the
permitted maximum residue level (MRL) and 4% are contaminated by
residues above the MRL. The use of extremely hazardous substances
has been progressively banned in agriculture and the positive results
are now on sight. A study carried out in Barcelona reveals that
organochlorine pesticides, the most persistent, seem to have disappeared
completely from some foodstuffs like fruits. This is the good news,
the bad news is that the same study, carried out by the Agency for
Public Health of Barcelona and recently published by Gaceta Sanitaria,
continues to detect organochlorine pesticides in other type of products
such as vegetables and milk.
Another type of pesticide, less persistent but equally toxic, the
organophosphates, continue to appear in 14.8% of the products, varying
from 37.5% in citrus fruits to 3.2% in nuts. The question underlying
these results is how continued exposure to low levels of pesticides
is affecting human health. A recent study from Instituto Sindical
de Trabajo, Ambiente y Salud (ISTAS) concludes that many agriculture
products contain residues from pesticide use. In most cases the
residue levels are below the legal threshold but when endocrine
disruptors, persistent and bioaccumulative substances are concerned
these legal thresholds do not guarantee the protection of public
health.
Four additional chemicals banned in the Conference
of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention
The European Union (EU) pressed for international action to phase
out further Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), which cause long-term
damage to people and the environment. The EU is also encouraging
the active participation of environment Non-Governmental Organisations
(NGOs) and industry in the first global, legally binding agreement
to protect human health, wildlife and the environment from the toxic
effects of chemicals.The first Conference of the Parties to the
Stockholm Convention on POPs took place in Uruguay from 2-6 May
with over 800 officials. The convention has now been ratified by
98 of the 151 countries that signed it. The United States and Russia
are among those nations yet to ratify the accord. In the EU, 7 countries
are yet to ratify the accord (Belgium, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania,
Malta and Poland).
The European Union met NGOs early in the Conference to ensure that
NGO views were taken into account in decisions made by the Parties
to the Convention.The main concerns expressed by environment and
health NGOs are connected with a perceived lack of ambition in terms
of the practical technical implementation of the Convention objectives,
such as the dioxin toolkit (to assist countries in estimating dioxin
emissions), disposal of waste containing POPs and guidelines on
Best Available Technology and Best Environmental Practice (BAT /
BEP) to minimise releases of unintentionally-produced dioxins and
furans. (Dioxins and furans are by-products from some industrial
and combustion processes.)
Countries agreed to consider adding four new chemicals to the "dirty
dozen" list of banned pesticides and industrial chemicals,
but exemptions for some toxins such as DDT were maintained for insect
disease vector control despite their harmful effects. While DDT
is banned for use on crops, about 20 countries spray some 7,500
tonnes of the chemical every year in their homes to kill mosquitoes.
Malaria kills 1 million people a year. The U.N. estimates termites
cause $30 billion a year in damage by chomping through wooden buildings,
bridges and crops.
World Health Organisation tool assesses risk of unsafe
chemicals in food
The World Health Organisation (WHO) promotes a tool called total
diet studies (TDS) to measure consumer exposure to a range of chemical
contaminants, from acrylamide to mercury. The TDS consists of buying
common consumer retail foods, processing them as for consumption,
often combining the foods into food composites or aggregates, homogenising
them, and analysing the compound for toxic chemicals and certain
nutrients. The studies are designed to measure the average amount
of each chemical ingested by different age/sex groups living in
a country. Once the data collection is complete, scientists assess
whether or not specific chemicals pose a risk to health.
Total diet studies can be used as a priority-setting tool to enable
risk managers to focus their limited resources on those chemicals,
both contaminants and nutrients, that pose the greatest risks to
public health, adds the UN-backed group. The cost of conducting
a baseline total diet study is estimated at about $125 000 (€101,000),
if a country already has basic information on food consumption.
Examples of priority contaminants for TDS are: pesticides (such
as aldrin/dieldrin, DDT (complex) and dithiocarbamates), heavy metals
(cadmium, lead mercury), industrial chemicals (polychlorinated biphenyls
and dioxins), mycotoxins (aflatoxins, patulin and ochratoxin A),
finally the by-product of cooking process, acrylamide.
Higher risk of Parkinson's disease from gardening
Gardeners should wear protective clothing when using pesticides
to guard against getting Parkinson's disease in later life, a leading
scientist warns. Professor Anthony Seaton and researchers at Aberdeen
University, Scotland, found gardeners who used weed-killers and
other chemicals have an increased risk of developing the incurable,
severely debilitating brain disease. They studied nearly 3,000 people
in five European countries, including Scotland, and found that gardeners
had a 9%greater risk of contracting Parkinson's than people who
had not come into contact with pesticides. Farmers were 43% more
likely to contract the disease. Those with a family history of Parkinson's
were 350% more likely to get it, and being knocked out was another
significant risk factor.
"This is primarily a dose-related thing," Prof Seaton
said. "If you have to use pesticides, you should do your best
to reduce the dose by not using them. And if you do use them, use
them for the minimum amount of time and wear protective clothing
to stop it getting into your lungs or on to your skin."
The researchers interviewed 767 Parkinson's sufferers and 1,989
healthy people about risk factors for the disease.
New law on dangerous chemicals approved in Switzerland
The Swiss government has approved a new law to come into force on
August 1st to better protect consumers and the environment from
dangerous chemicals. Conforming to European Union norms, the legislation
should also boost trade for Switzerland's chemical industry as it
brings Swiss regulations into line with EU norms. For example, permitted
levels for certain heavy metals will be introduced and bans placed
on chemicals such as nonylphenol ethoxylates used in a number of
household and commercial cleaning products which can leak into water
supplies. Switzerland will also match EU regulations on new chemicals
and pesticides. Swiss legislation is not being watered down in cases
where it is tougher than in the EU, such as the ban on phosphates
in household detergents and the amount of cadmium contained in fertilisers.
EU Maximum Residue Levels survey finalized
The coordinated monitoring survey of pesticide residues in food
for 2005 will cover 55 active ingredients in peas, beans, potatoes,
carrots, mandarins, spinach, rice and cucumber. A total of 613 samples
of each food product will be analyzed, divided between Member States.
At least 10 samples should be of baby food by each Member State
and samples of organic food are analyzed in proportion to organic
production in the EU economy. Test results for MRLs should be reported
back to the European Commission by 31st August 2006. This time the
European Food Safety Agency will take on collating information provided
by Member States and produce full information regarding MRLs.
Studies on accumulation of organochlorine pesticides
and degradation products in plant samples of an industrial area
in Galicia, NW Spain
The most abundant pesticides in all the samples were HCHs isomers.
Some other pesticides such as p,p’-D.D.T, p,p’-D.D.D
and p,p’-D.D.E were present in lower quantities. In this study
Cystisus striatus was the highest accumulator of HCHs (62.mg/kg)
while Chenopodium vulgare was the lowest accumulator (1.7mg/kg).
Even though these plants are not for human consumption, the MRLs
are much higher than limits set for agricultural crops in Europe,
which are as low as 0.1mg/kg for g-HCH and 0.02mg/kg for the sum
of a,bandd depending on the sample, suggesting these plants, especially
Cystisus striatus, could be used for phytoremediation purposes,
i.e. for removing toxic residues from soils.
Monitoring of pesticides using honeybees as bioindicators
in the province of Bologna, Italy
35 organophosphates and 5 carbamates were detected in samples of
honeybees from 14 beehive monitoring stations in the province of
Bologna. The results indicated that malathion was the most frequently
occurring pesticide, found in 58% samples (mean 0.36mg/kg) followed
by fenithrothion in 53% samples (mean 0.54mg/kg), and pirimiphos
methyl in 48% of samples (mean 0.006mg/kg). Although the presence
of carbamates was lower than those of organophosphates, fenoxicarb,
a banned carbamate in Italy, was found in sixteen samples. These
results suggest the need to control the applications periodically
and use pesticides properly choosing the products that do not threaten
environment.
Organochlorine pesticides in urban environment in east
of France
Analysis of air samples collected from Strasbourg, a big city in
eastern France in 2001 and 2003 detected a-HCH and g-HCH in all
the samples (between 0.05 and 4ng per m3and between 0.01 and 1ng
per m3 , respectively) along with aldrin and dieldrin in lower concentrations
(0.01 to 0.08 and 0.02- 0.09ng per m3 respectively). The differences
in air temperature caused an increase in concentrations of g-HCH
due to volatilization.
Intentional Endosulfan poisoning with Cerebral Edema
and Cardiac Failure in Germany
Two intentional endosulfan ingestion cases were reported in Germany,
one consuming 180g and another 12.3g of endosulfan. Both these cases
developed life-threatening signs such as epileptic state, respiratory
insufficiency and blood circulation instability soon after ingestion.
The survivor developed severe myocardial insufficiency and pulmonary
edema documented by echocardiography and x-ray of the chest. The
deceased patient developed severe cerebral edema and multiorgan
failure ten days after ingestion of endosulfan. The peak serum concentration
of endosulfan in the survivor was 0.12mg/l approximately 23 hours
after ingestion, whereas the peak blood concentration in the fatal
case was 0.86mg/l approximately 25 hours post-ingestion.
Organochlorines alter menstrual cycles?
Dietary exposure to persistent organochlorine compounds (POCs) has
been found to affect the menstrual cycle of both animals and humans.
In Sweden the major exposure route for persistent organochlorine
compounds (POCs) is the consumption of fatty fish from the Baltic
Sea. Questionnaires were sent to women who eat large amounts of
sea fish and also to a socio-economically similar cohort of controls,
and information was collected on their menstrual cycles. A cohort
comparison found that the exposed women on average had 0.46 days
shorter menstrual cycles than controls.
Operator exposure to amenity herbicide application
In response to the UK Government’s request on its opinion
on the risks to the public from the use of herbicides on amenities,
the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) conducted research to assess
the potential inhalation and dermal exposure of operators to herbicides
and collect information on the patterns of use and the application
equipment. The potential dermal exposure to spray fluid ranged between
0.7 and 6.8 ml/h of spray fluid. Exposure to hands, as collected
on cotton gloves, ranged between 0.6 and 13.6 ml/h. Potential exposure
to spray fluid by inhalation was found in 85% of the samples, range
7-37 mg/m3.
Spain struggles with methyl bromide
The widespread use of alternatives to the ozone-depleting fumigant,
methyl bromide, is still a long way off in Spain, according to researchers
at the Valencian Institute for Agricultural Research. Although the
Institute has developed some good chemical and non-chemical alternatives
to methyl bromide, few growers are familiar with or accept the techniques
so far. The Institute has been working to develop alternatives since
1997, both chemical and non-chemical. Non-chemical alternatives
experimented included solarisation techniques by adding matter,
such as manure, urban soil residues, and brassica crops to the soil.
3. News from PAN Europe partners
Update on the campaign and Court case against the Union
of Plant Protection Industries, France
In response to the advertising campaign initiated by the Union of
Plant Protection Industries (UIPP in French) in several French magazines
(Telerama, Elle, Marie Claire…), the MDRGF launched a Cyberaction
in February 2005 supported by 5000 citizens. The pressure from the
civil society was a victory because one of the magazines (Telerama)
stopped publishing the misleading ads. Moreover, MDRGF noted that
the information concerning organic food had been deleted from the
website promoting this advertising campaign (http://www.protectiondesrecoltes.fr).
MDRGF, together with Eau et Rivieres de Bretagne, Euronat, Le moulin
de Marion and the National Trade Union of Beekeepers, supported
by an anti-UIPP campaign umbrella network (Objectifbio 2007, ACAP,
etc.) had a Court order issued against the UIPP and the magazines
to obtain the suspension of the advertisements and a right of answer
to be published in these magazines. This procedure was examined
in the court of justice of Rennes on the 9th of March. The judge
gave his judgment on the 16th of March and unfortunately MDRGF and
other parties were dismissed because the judge didn’t recognize
the urgency of the situation and declared his non-ability to judge
this affair.
The MDRGF and EURONAT plc then decided to appeal against this decision.
The appeal was judged on the 24th of May. MDRGF noted that the ads
published in the magazines had then been changed. The sentence under
the photo of the young people before the NGO action read: “We
don’t know it, yet pesticides contribute to produce safe food…
pesticides are produced to protect the crops…. In respect
of human health and the environment” had been transformed
into “ …pesticides, used under strictly controlled conditions,
contribute to produce safe food…” These changes show
that the industry feels that its initial campaign was deceitful.
The good defence of MDRGF’s lawyers, Mr Mathonnet and Le Mazou
gave prominence to the incoherence of the industry campaign and
the fact that this ad is misleading. The appeal decision will be
given on the 5th of July. The UIPP campaign will be over then but
NGOs hope to obtain a right of answer.
Do note that this campaign is in line with the campaign launched
all over Europe by the ECPA (European Crop Protection Association
(see http://www.ecpa.be/commonground),
in an equally misleading campaign targeting European decision makers
and the general public.
The 8th International HCH and Pesticide Forum
The Forum took place in Sofia, Bulgaria from 26-28 May. The host
organizations were: the International HCH & Pesticides Association
(IHPA), The Netherlands; the Ministry of Environment and Water of
Bulgaria and National Centre for Agricultural Science, Bulgaria;
Institute for Sustainable Development, Bulgaria (PAN Europe partner);
and the Federal Environment Agency of Germany (UBA).
The theme of this Conference was practices of Environmentally Sound
Management (ESM) for cleaning-up obsolete stockpiles of pesticides
in Central European and EECC Countries. The forum discussed national
and regional strategies, actions plans and financial resources for
elimination of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and obsolete
pesticides. This included exchange of technologies and experiences
for inventory, risk assessment, environmentally sound management,
storage and destruction of obsolete pesticides and contaminated
soils. Many representatives of Ministries, NGO's and Institutes
gave presentations at the forum.
In the countries of Central Europe and EECCA, where the Sofia conference
focussed , many thousands of tonnes of obsolete pesticides and other
hazardous chemicals are stored in completely inappropriate premises
or just dumped or buried. Many of these obsolete pesticides are
POPs – Persistent Organic Pollutants. In the Ukraine it is
estimated that in 2005 there are 20,000 tons of prohibited and obsolete
pesticides; with over 2,000 tons of these POPs. In Georgia the POPs
inventory identified 206 sites with 160 tons POPs found mostly in
unprotected buildings. In Uzbekistan there are 1,500 tons of obsolete
pesticides identified, but 17,718 tons of banned and obsolete pesticides
have been kept in 13 underground storages since 1972.
Efforts on elimination of obsolete pesticide stockpiles and steps
to find solutions have been taken. The Stockholm convention includes
strategies and measures regarding the elimination of POPs. The FAO
has guidelines on how to handle obsolete stockpiles, see
FAO website.
The Sofia conference made clear that these are good instruments
for the countries concerned, but that there is a lack of implementation.
This is mainly caused by lack of local, national and international
awareness and commitment. In particular, not enough financial support
is available.
Child health and pollution discussed in Central Asia
The scientific conference on "Children and environment health
in Central Asia" was held in Almaty, Kazakhstan, 25-28 April,
having as Chairman of the Organising Committee David Carpenter,
Albany University, USA. Several IPEN members participated including:
Mahmood Khwaja (SDPI, Pakistan), Makalinao Irma, (Philippines),
Manvelyan Elena (Armenian Women for Health and Healthy Environment);
and Jamilja Aitmatova, Adylbek Akmatov, Musofar Isobaev, Igor Hadjamberdiev,
Shairbek Sulaimanov from Tadjikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.
Several studies on the Aral Sea region (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Tadjikistan, Uzbekistan) and POPs were reported. The "Central
Asian Association on Child Health and Environment" was established
on the last day of the conference, having as Vice-Chairman M. Isobaev
(PAN Central Asia board-member).
This PAN Europe Newsletter was compiled by Stephanie Williamson,
Sofia Parente and Mangaprabha Waggott.
Contributions are welcome from PAN Europe network members, PURE
supporters and individuals.
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