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ABOUT US > E-BULLETIN
E-bulletin No 2. July 2004
CLICK HERE FOR E-Bulletin no. 1 Sep 2003
This is the second e-bulletin of the NTN Committee,
and the first for this year.It has news of our current campaigns and consultations, and reports on recent developments in the campaigns of participating organisations and individuals affiliated with the National Toxics Network.
NTN Briefing Papers were presented at the National Environment Consultative Forum June 2004, on some of the following issues:
CONTENTS
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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 intentrially produced POPs. NTN is the Australian focal point for the International POPs Elimination Network (IPEN), a global network of public interest non-governmental organisations 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.
See Community Information page for Briefing Papers
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CChildren'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.
See Community Information page for Briefing Papers
Perfluorochemicals
The US EPA has begun a priority review of the chemical, C8, a perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) used in Teflon manufacture. C8 is part of the broader family of perfluorochemicals, which tests have shown can cause liver damage and reproductive problems.The draft US EPA Review, released this year has found that C8 accumulates in the blood system and has toxic chemicals that pose a risk for childbearing women.
See Community Information page for Briefing Papers
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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.
See Community Information page for Briefing Papers
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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 is under investigation by the APVMA because of new evidence that it is unsafe. It is essential that Australia moves quickly to protect its children and the environment from this cocktail of chemicals (copper, chrome, arsenic) contained in, and on the surface of, CCA treated timber.
See Community Information page for Briefing Papers
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| Dioxins
In the 2001-02 Federal Budget, the Australian Government announced the four year National Dioxins Program to reduce dioxins and dioxin-like substances in the environment. The Commonwealth Dept of Environment has released a set of technical reports for dioxins in Australia, as follows:
Bushfires in Australia
Dioxins emissions from Motor Vehicles in Australia
Inventory of Dioxin emissions in Australia, 2004
Dioxins in Ambient Air in Australia
Dioxins in Soils in Australia
Dioxins in Aquatic Environments in Australia
Dioxins in Fauna in Australia
Dioxins in Agricultural Commodities in Australia
Dioxins in the Australian Population: Levels in Blood
Dioxins in the Australian Population: Levels in Human Milk
Ecological Risk Assessment of Dioxins in Australia
Human Health Risk Assessment of Dioxins in Australia
These are available at http://www.deh.gov.au/industry/chemicals/dioxins/index.html
NTN has reviewed these reports, highlighting many significant limitations. A copy of that review is available here.
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IPEN Body Burden Handbook
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
See Community Information page for Briefing Papers
Multiple Chemical Sensitivity
South Australia's Parliament has commenced its inquiry into Multiple Chemical Sensitivity through the Social Development Committee, email sdc@parliament.sa.gov.au.The inquiry is open for written submissions until August 13. Oral submissions will be taken after this date. The inquiry is likely to close in late September or early October, after consideration of the available evidence.
You can support the SA taskforce by contacting Peter Evans, email satfmcs@optusnet.com.au, and also sign the on line petition to have MCS recognised as a serious public health problem, at http://www.PetitionOnline.com/31032/petition.html
In Queensland, ASEHA is encouraging MCS sufferers to use the processes of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission and the Disability Discrimination Act to pursue redress of grievances. CLICK HERE for a form letter you can adapt and send to HREO Commissioner.(Word 28k)
Following a complaint before the HREOC,the Royal Brisbane Hospital acknowledged the existence of Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) by devising protocols for dealing with such patients in the hospital (Queensland Government. 2002). Until now, disability access to hospitals for MCS sufferers has been a problem, central to which has been the failure of the health care system to accept MCS as a legitimate disability. Recent events have put the MCS protocols devised by the Royal Brisbane Hospital to test, with some surprising results.
ASEHA Newsletter Vol.9 June 2004 (Word 94k)
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Healthy Schools update
Turner Primary School in the ACT is being renovated with low toxicity paints and flooring glues, a first for the ACT. However, it had to be pointed out to the purchasing department that they had installed CCA treated logs around the playground, which will now have to be painted with sealant in the holidays! This little story illustrates where we seem to be up to with non-toxic schools. The message is getting across, but lack of a funded and coordinated approach is slowing us down! All suggestions gratefully received! Let's hope the Minister was impressed enough to do something about it after NTN's presentation on Children's Environmental Health at NECF this month. (see above)
Chemical Awareness in Schools |
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