Coalition of North American Environmental Health and Human Rights Organizations Demand National Governments Support Global Elimination of Toxic Chemicals

Anchorage, AK, USA; Toronto, ON, Canada; Texcoco, State of Mexico, Mexico:

Today, health, human rights, environmental justice, and conservation organizations across North America are calling on the governments of Mexico, Canada, and the United States to join them in opposition to the continued use of pentachlorophenol (PCP). Coalitions in each of the three countries are sending letters in advance of the Conference of the Parties (COP7) of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in May 2015 demanding support for a global ban on PCP, as well as two additional substances (chlorinated naphthalenes & Hexachlorobutadiene) recommended for global elimination by a UN expert committee (aka POPs Review Committee).

The letters were signed by a total of 110 organizations (27 in Canada, 59 in the United States and 29 in Mexico), some of which represent networks made up of hundreds of additional health, human rights, environmental justice, and conservation organizations. 

Read the entire press release here (English / Español)

Read the letters to the Canadian, Mexican and United States governments here  

Read IPEN's Guide to Listing the 2015 POPs Candidates, which provides information about pentachlorophenol's, hexachlorobutadiene's, and chlorinated naphthalenes' uses, alternatives, adverse effects, and more.