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Breaking News from America's Progressive Community... Latest
Releases
The press releases posted here have been provided to NewsCenter by the one of the many progressive organizations we have selected to participate. If you would like more information about this press release, you should contact the organization directly. |
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| JANUARY
19, 1999 12:19 PM FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: World Wildlife Fund Tina Dreyfus, 202-778-9509 |
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| Worldwide Ban On DDT to be Considered at Nairobi Meeting on Organic Pollutants: Key Conference to Discuss Fate of 11 Other Toxic Chemicals | ||||||
| WASHINGTON
- January 19 -
For the first time in history, United Nations member countries are negotiating a
treaty to ban an entire class of chemicals -- known as persistent organic
pollutants (POPs) because of their ability to stay in the environment for
decades, damaging the health of wildlife and humans. World Wildlife Fund and
Environmental Media Services will hold a press conference Tuesday, Jan. 12,
sponsored by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) previewing the
second session of the treaty negotiations, which will convene in Nairobi, Kenya
from Jan. 25 through Jan. 29.
At the Nairobi conference representatives from more than 100 nations will discuss whether to recommend a global treaty banning 12 of the most toxic chemicals, including the notorious pesticide DDT -- which will be highlighted in a new report by the World Wildlife Fund showing the adverse environmental and human health effects. Other POPs include chlordane, dieldrin, dioxin and PCBs. Delegates will also begin negotiating a process for implementing the treaty, to include technical and financial assistance as countries shift to environmentally preferable alternatives. POPs are highly toxic chemicals that break down extremely slowly in the environment. (Much DDT remains in the soil and waterways of the U.S., even though DDT was banned here in 1972.) Among their health effects, POPs are linked to reproductive abnormalities, neurological defects and cancer. They travel easily via wind and water around the globe, and concentrate in the fatty tissues of people and animals. Because their diets are heavy in animal fat from seals and other marine mammals, the Inuit people of the circumpolar region have been especially affected.
For UN media accreditation, contact Sonia Lecca at 1-212-963-6934, fax: 1-212-963-4642. |
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