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Handbooks for Capacity Building | Links | Chemical Information | Briefing Papers
NTN collects, collates and distributes information for use by the community, individuals and legislators. In this section of the website there are a range of briefing papers on
important toxic issues.
BRIEFING PAPERS
Persistent Organic Pollutants
The Persistent Organic Pollutants or POPs encompass
the ‘dirty dozen’ chemicals. The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants
2001 provides the mechanism to restrict and ban the intentionally produced POPs.
NTN is the Australian focal point for the International POPs Elimination Network (IPEN),
a global network of public interest non-government organisations (NGOs) united in support of a
common POPs Elimination Platform and the implementation of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). The POPs Convention came into force on 17th May 2004. The parties are now required to minimize and where feasible, eliminate their emissions of persistent organic pollutants.
NTN POPs Briefing Paper (Adobe Acrobe pdf 155KB)
Children's Environmental Health
The unique vulnerability of children to hazardous chemicals is now well recognised by both the United Nations and the World Health Organisations and international programs are now trying to address this problem. NTN would like to see Australia develop and implement similar policy relating to the environmental rights of children. Protecting the health of vulnerable sub-populations, and intergenerational equity, need to be built in to the 'day to day' core environment business.
NTN Children's Briefing Paper
(Adobe Acrobat pdf 73KB)
Perfluorochemicals
The US Environmental Protection Agency has moved to stop the emissions of the
perfluorochemical used in the manufacture of Teflon and
other non-stick coatings; perflurooctanoic acid (PFOA). PFOA is a likely
carcinogen, persisting in the environment and accumulating in human and animal
tissue. NTN has called for a ban on all uses of PFOA.
NTN PFOAs Briefing Paper
(Adobe Acrobe pdf 51KB)
For information on other perfluorochemicals,
visit
POP Review Committee Information Repository
Brominated Flame Retardants/PBDEs
It is now apparent that brominated flame retardants (BFRs)
are used in a wide range of domestic products including computer plastics,
televisions, white goods, car interiors, carpets, furniture and bedding.
Some forms of BFRs have been shown to cause disruption of the thyroid hormones,
mimic oestrogen and are now linked to cancer and reproductive damage.
Both the European Union and California have now moved to ban at least
two BFRs; penta-BDE and octa-BDE. NTN is calling on NICNAS to follow
their example and ban both the penta and octa forms while commencing a
phase out of all uses of deca-BDE over the next two years.
Full story & Issue papers on the BFR page
PBDE/OCP/Dioxin Breastmilk Testing in Australia
A
2004 study collected and tested the pooled samples from 20 urban
and rural areas around Australia. The levels of the brominated
flame retardants, the polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs)
are clearly higher than those observed in Europe and Japan but
lower than those observed in North America and some parts of
Canada. The European Union have banned both penta-BDE and
octa-BDE.
NTN Breastmilk Briefing Paper
(Adobe Acrobat pdf 137KB)
Tasmania's Proposed Pulmill
A pulmill proposed for Tasmania will not be chlorine free as orginally promised.
The Elemental Chlorine Free (ECF) process will use chlorine dioxide to treat wood pulp.
Studies have shown ECF pulp mills can emit dioxins and furans in their waste streams.
NTN Pulp Mill Briefing Paper (Adobe Acrobat pdf
41KB)
Body Burden Monitoring
Body burden refers to the chemical residues humans and wildlife carry in their fats, blood,
bone and breastmilk. The monitoring of body burden monitoring provides an effective and
powerful decision-making and lobbying tool to reduce chemical exposure.
NTN believes Australia should be introducing body burden monitoring as a management
tool for the persistent bio-accumulative toxic substances of concern (eg. BFRs and pthalates)
The International POPs Elimination Network IPEN has established the Community Monitoring
Working Group to collect and disseminate information on community monitoring techniques and
case studies as well as body burden sampling.
NTN is coordinating the project in Australia, and has developed a CD handbook and web site.
The initiative is designed to support the implementation of the Stockholm Convention and the
identification and selection of new persistent organic pollutants (POPs).
Learn more about toxics in the body by visiting the Community Monitoring Body Burden Handbook and the US Environmental Working Group Body Burden Website
NTN Body Burden Briefing Paper (Word 25k)
CCA-treated timber
Arsenic based timber treatments will be phased
out in the US by the end of this year. The use of CCA in Australia has been restricted after a review by the
by the regulatory authority, APVMA.
NTN CCA Briefing Paper & Submission to APVMA
(Word 94k)
TRICLOSAN antibacterial
New research (1) has shown that the antimicrobial agent, Triclosan used in household
dishwashing soaps reacts with chlorinated water to produce significant quantities of
chloroform which can exceed US EPA regulatory levels.
US EPA classifies chloroform as a probable human carcinogen. The presence of
trihalomethanes such as chloroform in drinking water has already been linked with
human bladder cancers and miscarriages. In light of other studies showing that the
levels of trihalomethanes in people’s blood increase when they shower, the research
raises questions about exposures to chloroform when antimicrobial soaps are used.
The new research also suggests that the reaction of triclosan (5-chloro-2-(2,4-
dichlorophenoxy)phenol) with chlorine could be producing highly chlorinated dioxins
in the presence of sunlight
NTN TRICLOSAN antibacterial Briefing
(Adobe Acrobat pdf 18KB)
Hazards of Perfumes
In the USA, a report by the Environmental Working Group entitled "Skin Deep'
found that around 89% of the 10,500 ingredients in personal care products have not
been evaluated; one in three personal care products has at least one ingredient
classified as a possible carcinogen and one in one hundred contain probable
cancer-causing agents; some other ingredients e.g. phthalates are endocrine
disruptors that are linked to birth defects, while parabens used as preservatives
in underarm deodorants and other personal care products have been linked to breast cancer.
In Australia, the Allergy, Sensitivity and Environmental Health Association of Qld Inc.,
a volunteer community organisation promoting awareness in the community has produced
leaflet on the hazards of perfume.
To learn more, visit our perfume page.
Community
Information Systems
Computerised information systems are our special interest and area of expertise.
We aim to increase community awareness and access to information about toxics worldwide.
Some examples of information systems using NTN's resources and skills are:
HCB Community Information System
The HCB Community Information System aims to support community groups, residents and members of
the Botany Community Participation and Review Committee involved in the destruction of the
10,500 tonnes stockpile of hexachlorobenzene (HCB) waste stored at the Botany Industrial Park
in Sydney, Australia.
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