IPEN Updates & Action Archive:

World's Oldest Public Health Organization Calls for Actions on Toxic Exposures in Fast Growing Global Electronics Industry

The American Public Health Association (APHA) today called on the global electronics' industry, public health officials and international agencies to step up efforts to protect workers and communities, citing well documented adverse health effects caused by many toxic chemicals used in the manufacture of electronic and electrical products worldwide. The resolution endorsed three key strategies: right to know; prevention through design; and health surveillance. The resolution helps support efforts by public interest NGOs globally on reducing and eliminating hazardous chemicals in the lifecycle of electronics. Read the IPEN press release here:

View press release.

UN 'Scientific' Committee Turns Political — Fails to Take Action on Cancer Causing Chemicals

"It appears that the committee once again delayed action because SCCPs are widely used — instead of focusing on their potential harms as obligated by the Stockholm Convention," said Mariann Lloyd-Smith, IPEN. "That raises concerns about scientific integrity and whether commercial considerations are a higher priority than the Stockholm Convention's goal of protecting human health and the environment."

Read more | Background on SCCPs

IPEN attends the 3rd International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM3)

IPEN is in Kenya for the SAICM's (Strategic Approach International Chemicals Management's) 3rd international conference (ICCM3), which is taking place from 17 - 21 September in Nairobi. In the run-up to the ICCM3, IPEN has released the following publications:

• Citizens' Report
• Global Lead Paint Elimination by 2020
• Nanotechnology in Africa

To learn more about IPEN's activities throughout the ICCM3, please visit our ICCM3 page.

IPEN Co-Chair Dr. Olga Speranskaya featured on United Nations Video

"In connection with the International Conference on Chemicals, Russian scientist Dr. Olga Speranskaya, UNEP Champions of the Earth laureate 2011, talks about the importance of finance to make chemicals management a reality for all." – UNEP Web site

IPEN Report on Rio+20 Chemical and Waste commitments

While overall the text of the Future We Want is weak and does not reflect the urgency of the global crisis affecting us all, for the chemical and waste section, many of the issues raised by IPEN were at least addressed. The meeting, although hailed as one with the full participation of civil society, did not in reality reflect this. Many working groups were quickly closed to NGOs as small meeting rooms became overcrowded, and only delegates were allowed to speak in the working groups.

Read the full IPEN Report on Rio+20 Chemical and Waste commitments and get more information on our Toxics Free 2012 Information page.

Mercury Treaty Legitimizes Increased Mercury Pollution

3 July, 2012 (Punta del Este, Uruguay) — Although two-thirds of delegates engaged in international negotiations for a proposed mercury treaty support language that would help protect human health and the environment, a small group of developed countries appears to oppose public actions to prevent and reduce exposure to mercury.

"We are deeply concerned that, with current text, the treaty may actually legitimize increased global mercury releases to protect short-term economic interests. The price tag may appear to be 'cheap,' but the cost of inaction on mercury pollution will be huge," said Joe DiGangi, IPEN Scientific and Technical Advisor.

Read the entire press release in English | Spanish | Japanese

For more information, visit IPEN's INC4 page.

Elevating a Toxics-Free Future Agenda at Rio+20 & Beyond

In the run-up to the Rio + 20 global meeting, IPEN and partners have created a Global Common Statement for a Toxics-Free Future to create greater awareness about the increasing amounts of toxic chemicals in the environment, our food, communities and children. The endorsers of this statement have not forgotten the commitments made at the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio. Twenty years later, Rio+20 offers little or nothing to ensure the commitments are carried out and basic rights are secured for all people.

This Statement has been presented for consideration and adoption to NGOs and CSOs in all regions of the world as part of a global campaign to secure more than 1,000 NGO endorsements in at least 80 countries.

Additional resources and information about the Statement, including how your organization can endorse it, can be found at: www.ipen.org/toxics-free-2012

Implicaciones sociales y ambientales del desarrollo de las nanotecnologías en América Latina y el Caribe

IPEN Participating Organization ReLANS has produced a new booklet about the social and environmental implications of nanotechnology in Latin America, available in both Spanish and English. By Guillermo Foladori and Noela Invernizzi with the collaboration of Fernando Bejarano in the SAICM sections.

UN Conference on Environment and Development Marks 20th Anniversary

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the 1992 UN Conference on Environment and Development, and ten years since the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development. A "Rio + 20" conference will take place in Brazil in June. IPEN will participate in Rio + 20; specifically to elevate our toxics-free future mission into the process, ensure that toxic chemical issues are part of the agenda, and by expanding the discussions from a Green Economy to include Green Societies and Green Environments.
• See IPEN's draft submission to the Rio+20 Zero Document English | Russian (PDF)
• See IPEN Text Recommendations for the 'Chemicals and Waste' Section (Rio+20 Prepcom1) (PDF)
• See IPEN's views on appropriate language for the 'Chemicals and Waste' & 'Science and Technology' Sections (Rio+20 Prepcom2) (PDF)

More information about IPEN's engagement in the Rio+20 process will be posted shortly.

Joint IPEN-Greenpeace Study Finds Toxic Chemicals in Products in China

IPEN's Joe DiGangi appeared on the front page of ChinaDaily News. Read the article or see the press coverage list.

On the 7th of December 2011, in Beijing and Hong Kong, IPEN and Greenpeace jointly launched a study of heavy metals in children's products on the Chinese market.

The study looked at 500 children's products — including toys, school supplies and other products — from five Chinese cities (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Wuhan and Hong Kong.) We tested for six toxics heavy metals using an XRF device. For details, please visit the Greenpeace East Asia website and the IPEN-China page. The IPEN page contains full testing results in English. Results are also available in Chinese in a searchable database on the Greenpeace website.

First Open-Ended Working Group for SAICM

Numerous representatives from IPEN Participating Organizations recently attended the 1st Open-Ended Working Group for SAICM (Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management) in Belgrade. Click below for some thoughts and observations about the meeting in the document: "IPEN Quick Views of SAICM OEWG," and here for additional information.

English (PDF)

Lead 100 times greater than guidelines were found in this toy.

Toxic Substances in Consumer Products

Levels of toxins, such as heavy metals, in consumer products are a grave concern. Products containing concerning levels of lead, arsenic, mercury, cadmium, chromium, and antimony, among others, are widely sold around the globe. IPEN has undertaken a study to test levels of these toxins in products sold internationally. We have started this study in Manila, Philippines. Over the coming weeks and months, we will test in other cities and countries.

Click here to view test results and learn more about the Toxic Products study.

Honoring Minamata

IPEN announces the launch of its new webpage dedicated to Honoring Minamata, where you'll find a Press Release addressing an upcoming meeting in Japan about the naming of the global mercury treaty. Click here to read IPEN's "Honoring Minamata Solidarity Statement" and learn more about how you can sign-on to the Statement to show your support.

IPEN Updates Its Mercury-Free Campaign Webpage

An updated version of IPEN's Mercury-Free Campaign website can now be found at: http://ipen.org/hgfree/. This site contains information about IPEN's Mercury-Free Campaign, details about work to reduce and eliminate the harms caused by mercury, helpful educational publications in many languages and more. We will continue to add to the information resources link as more materials become available.

If your NGO is interested in joining IPEN's Mercury-Free Campaign, contact the IPEN Secretariat at ipen@ipen.org

Newly Elected IPEN-Co-Chair Manny Calonzo to Join Dr. Olga Speranskaya

IPEN congratulates Manny Calonzo, from GAIA Philippines, who will join Dr. Olga Speranskaya as one of the Co-Chairs of IPEN. Additionally, IPEN acknowledges the exceptional efforts and achievements by the outgoing IPEN Co-Chair, Dr. Mariann Lloyd-Smith.

POPs and Climate Change

The Stockholm Convention Secretariat and the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme developed a report on "Climate Change and POPs: Predicting the Impacts." IPEN Co-Chair Mariann Lloyd-Smith co-authored the policy recommendations chapter in the report.

See the report here

IPEN Study on Toxics in Carpet Padding

IPEN has conducted a study of new carpet padding to identify if toxic substances (known as penta and octa BDEs) are reused/recycled in new carpet padding products. These substances are Brominated Flame Retardants (BFRs) which are listed on the Stockholm Convention/POPs Treaty, and are on track for global elimination together with DDT, PCB, PFOS and several other toxic pollutants.

View study and BFR info

Co-Chair Interview

Listen to IPEN Co-Chair Dr. Olga Speranskaya being interviewed on the Voice of Russia (26 July, 2011). In the interview Dr. Speranskaya. talks about POPs, how she became involved with the issue of chemical safety and contaminated sites in the EECCA region, asbestos, waste and other important issues.

Listen

IPEN Co-Chair Dr. Olga Speranskaya receives UNEP's Champions of the Earth Award 2011

Ministers and Heads of State from across the globe are convening in New York City, USA to discuss the environment and sustainable development, and potential action for Rio +20. At a ceremony on Tuesday, 10 May, Dr. Olga Speranskaya, IPEN Co-Chair and Head of the Chemicals Programme at the Russian NGO Eco-Accord, was acknowledged for her achievements related to toxics and chemicals.

Felipe Calderón (President, Mexico), Achim Steiner (Executive Director, UNEP), Dr. Olga Speranskaya (Co-Chair, IPEN)

Read Dr. Speranskaya's and the other Champions' bios and speeches

Read the UNEP Press Release

Learn about Mercury Pollution, New IPEN Mercury Book

IPEN has just released "An NGO Introduction to Mercury Pollution." This book provides information about mercury pollution and its harm to human health and the environment. The book also presents the major sources of mercury pollution and calls for civil society efforts at the local, national, and global level to work toward controlling human activities that release mercury into the environment.

IPEN Mercury Book .pdf 1.2MB

Mercury Book in Russian .pdf 3.26MB

Mercury Book in Spanish .pdf 2.19MB

Flame Retardants

Brominated and chlorinated flame retardants have increasingly attracted attention as a problematic class of chemical substances.
Now for the first time, nearly 150 scientists have assembled a comprehensive statement of concern about these chemicals which was recently published in Environmental Health Perspectives. Read the San Antonio Statement on Brominated and Chlorinated Flame.

Environmental Health Perspectives

Editorial

Read the San Antonio Statement on the IPEN page with tranlations.

NGO Press Release

Stockholm Convention 5th Conference of the Parties (COP5)

The Stockholm Convention's Fifth Conference of the Parties (COP5) took place in Geneva, Switzerland from 25 - 29, April, 2011. Representatives from numerous IPEN Participating Organizations attended and participated.

Visit IPEN's COP5 Webpage

IPEN at INC2

The second meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to prepare a global legally binding instrument on Mercury (INC2) will be held in Chiba, Japan from 24 to 28 January, 2011.

Link to the IPEN INC2 page