An international panel of experts is meeting in Geneva, Switzerland October 11 - 15, 2010, to review chemicals being considered for a worldwide ban under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). The 31 members of the POPs Review Committee (POPRC) will be considering whether endosulfan (an insecticide used in agriculture and already banned in 60 countries), short-chained chlorinated paraffins (used primarily in metalworking, but also as flame retardants, plasticizers, and additives in paints) and hexabromocyclododecane (used as a flame retardant in insulation board for construction, electrical and electronic equipment, upholstery fabric, draperies and car interiors) should be banned under the Convention. All three of these dangerous chemicals can be found in the Arctic due to long range transport by wind and ocean currents.
International observers representing nongovernmental organizations from around the world are attending the meeting to advocate for meaningful international action to eliminate the production and use of these harmful chemicals.
CHE-Alaska hosted a discussion with international observers Karl Tupper of Pesticide Action Network North America, Pamela K. Miller of Alaska Community Action on Toxics and Eva Kruemmel (invited) of Inuit Circumpolar Council to hear the outcomes of the meeting and to find out how you can help ensure that these chemicals are eliminated from worldwide production and use.