Chemical Review Panel Delays Action on Highly Toxic Substances, Threatening Health and the Environment Globally

Last week the Stockholm Convention POPs review committee, a body charged with evaluating threats from toxic chemicals, met to decide whether brominated dioxins and furans (PBDD/Fs and PBCDD/Fs) meet the criteria as persistent organic pollutants (POPs) that should be globally restricted. While strong scientific evidence over decades shows that these chemicals pose similar threats as other chemicals that have been globally banned, the committee failed to come to agreement, leaving people and the environment globally at risk. 

Closely related chlorinated dioxins and furans were listed under the Stockholm Convention among the original “dirty dozen”toxic POPs and science have shown that these brominated compounds and mixed compounds have the same concerns. Studies show they undergo long range transport, bioaccumulate and are persistent.They are also extremely toxic and thus meet the Stockholm Convention criteria for a global ban.  

“This delay is extremely disappointing and means that these toxic chemicals will continue putting our health at risk,” said IPEN Science Advisor Therese Karlssson who participated at the POPRC meeting. “They will accumulate in our bodies, in our children, and in generations yet to come. They will continue reaching environments far from their sources and expose communities who had no part in the decisions that released them.”  

Laboratory studies using human cell models show that brominated dioxinsand furans can trigger harmful biological responses similar to those caused by chlorinated dioxins. These include changes in hormone activity, stress responses in cells, and disruptions to normal growth and development processes — effects linked to risks for cancer, reproductive, and immune health problems in people.  

Studies on children’s toys made from recycled plastics have found concentrations of brominated dioxins and furan that are similar to concentrations that would be found in hazardous wastes. They have also been found in eggs from 26 countries.

 “Our global studies on eggs find that brominated dioxins and furans are contaminating our food. Eggs close to an e-waste site in Ghana showed that eating just one egg would be enough to exceed the tolerable yearly intake, “ said Dr. Jindrich Petrli of Arnika, lead author of the recent egg study.

While most members of the POPRC agreed that there is sufficient scientific evidence to meet the criteria in the convention for globalcontrols, a few individuals blocked progress, insisting that more data is needed. As a result, global action to control these substances will be delayed beyond the next Stockholm Convention meeting in 2027 

The committee also looked at follow-up work on how to improve transparency and traceability of POPs, as well as monitoring of new POPs. IPEN Co-chair Pam Miller noted,"We appreciated the work of the Committee to advance work on POPs in stockpiles, articles in use, and waste. The work to improve Annex F information for risk management evaluations is also important and we strongly encourage a special focus on increased transparency and transmission of information to ensure health and environmental protection for workers and communities in countries where these products and wastes will end up. We also look forward to the closer coordination between the POPs Review Committee and the Global Coordination Group on the Global Monitoring Plan." 

See more on IPEN's POPRC page and the Earth Negotiations Bulletin report.