POPS REVIEW COMMITTEE INFORMATION REPOSITORY POPRC CANDIDATE POPS Chemical Impacts This section provides reference material for the current proposals. PLEASE NOTE : It is often faster to download the files to your computer, rather than viewing them on the web. To download, right click on the file name and select [Save Target As..] POLYBROMINATED DIPHENYLETHERS (PBDEs) There are three main commercial formulations of PBDEs (penta, octa, deca) that are used as flame retardants in plastics for TVs and computers, in carpets, car interiors and polyurethane foams for furniture and bedding. PBDEs are persistent, mobile in the environment, bioaccumulate, disrupt thyroid hormones and are linked with cancer and reproductive damage. Pentabromodiphenyl ether has been proposed by Norway for inclusion in the Stockholm Convention. Following is some useful reference material: IPEN BFR/PBDE Factsheet (PDF 48KB) IPEN The Next Generation of POPs: PBDEs and Lindane (PDF 421 KB) IPEN CMWG Candidate POPs Flier (PDF 414 KB) PBDEs as an emerging POPs (PDF 955 KB) BFRs Briefing Paper (PDF 33 KB) BFRs in Australian Breastmilk( PDF 137 KB) PBDEs in Pork (PDF 43 KB) PERFLUOROOCTANE SULFONATE (PFOS) and PERFLUOROOCTANOIC ACID (PFOA) Perfluorochemicals are used as soil/stain resistance treatments for fabrics/paper, in coatings for metal surfaces including non-stick cookware and in electronics components and fire fighting foams. They are very persistent, bioaccumulate, have developmental and reproductive effects and are linked with cancer. PFOS has been nominated by Sweden. Following is some useful reference material: NICNAS No 1 Perfluorooctanyl sulfonate (PFOS)- July 2002 (PDF 61KB). NICNAS No 2 Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS)- April 2003 (PDF 38 KB) No 4 Perfluoroctanoic Acid and its derivatives (PFOA)- Nov.2004 (PDF 196 KB) Perfluorinated compounds in serum from Australian urban and rural regions 2005 (PDF 78 KB) OECD hazard assessment report of Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and its salts finalised on 21 Nov.2002 (PDF 1.5 MB) United States Environmental Protection Agency preliminary risk assessment of the developmental toxicity associated with exposure to perfluorooctanoic acid and its salts - April 10 2003 (PDF 398 KB) United Kingdom Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Environment Agency for England and Wales: Perfluorooctane Sulphonate Risk Reduction Strategy and Analysis of Advantages and Drawbacks, Final Report August 2004. (924 KB) This link also provides access to the following documents: - United Kingdom Environment Agency, Environmental Risk Evaluation Report; Perfluorooctanesulphonate (PFOS); - Summary of US EPA activities about PFOA and telomers. CHLORDECONE Chlordecone is an insecticide, fungicide and degradation product of the POPs insecticide Mirex. It is persistent and affects the nervous system, skin, kidney, liver and reproductive system. It causes tumours in liver, adrenal gland, and kidneys in laboratory test animals. Chlordecone is included in the UNECE Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP) and has been nominated by the European Union and its member States. Following is some useful reference material: INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMME ON CHEMICAL SAFETY, ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH CRITERIA 43 CHLORDECONE International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) - Summaries & Evaluations, CHLORDECONE HEXABROMOBIPHENYL (HxBB) HxBB is used as a fire retardant in thermoplastics for industrial and electrical products; persistent, endocrine disruptor and linked to cancer. Hexabromobiphenyl is included in the UNECE Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP) and has been nominated by the European Union and its member States. Following is some useful reference material: INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMME ON CHEMICAL SAFETY ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH CRITERIA 152, POLYBROMINATED BIPHENYLS LINDANE / HEXACHLOROCYCLOHEXANE Lindane is an insecticide for the treatment of seeds, head lice and scabies. Lindane is persistent, an endocrine disruptor and is linked to cancer. It is included UNECE Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP) and has been nominated by Mexico. Following is some useful reference material: IPCS INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMME ON CHEMICAL SAFETY Health and Safety Guide No. 54, LINDANE (Gamma-HCH) WHO 1991 'Lindane's Dirty Secret: Indian Facilities Dump Toxic Waste' A wide range of Lindane related materials and information is available at www.panna.org/campaigns/lindaneInternational.html PAN UK Lindane Fact Sheet ChemWatch Lindane Fact Sheet |
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