Title: Urgent action needed to reduce growing health and environmental hazards from chemicals: UN report
[UNEP Geneva 5 September 2012] - Coordinated action by governments and industry is urgently needed to reduce the growing risks to human health and the environment posed by the unsustainable management of chemicals worldwide, according to a new report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). These risks are compounded by the steady shift in the production, use and disposal of chemical products from developed countries to emerging and developing economies, where safeguards and regulations are often weaker, says the report. UNEP's Global Chemicals Outlook, released today, highlights the major economic burden caused by chemical hazards, particularly in developing countries. The report reveals that the estimated costs of poisonings from pesticides in sub-Saharan Africa now exceeds the total annual overseas development aid given to the region for basic health services, excluding HIV/AIDS. Between 2005 and 2020, the accumulated cost of illness and injury linked to pesticides in small scale farming in sub-Saharan Africa could reach USD $90 billion. The release of the report - the first comprehensive assessment of its kind - follows renewed commitments by countries at the Rio+20 summit in June to develop safer alternatives to hazardous chemicals in products. Comment
By examining global chemicals trends and their economic implications, the UNEP report maps out the most effective approaches for decision-makers to deliver on these commitments. At the Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in 2002, UN member states set a target that by 2020, chemicals should be produced and used in ways that lead to the minimization of significant adverse effects on human health and the environment. "The economic analysis presented in the Global Chemicals Outlook demonstrates that sound chemicals management is as valid an area as education, transport, infrastructure, direct health care services and other essential public services. This could foster the creation of many green, decent and healthy jobs and livelihoods for developed and developing countries," said Dr. Maria Neira, WHO Director for Public Health and Environment. "Effective long-term management of chemicals and wastes lays the foundations for a thriving Green Economy, for ensuring a healthier environment, and for a fairer distribution of development benefits across society," added Dr. Neira.
In recent years, international conventions, governments and corporations have taken significant steps in developing national and international capacities for managing chemicals safely and soundly. But the Global Chemicals Outlook states that the pace of progress has been slow, and that results are too often insufficient.
Of the estimated 140,000+ chemicals on the market today, only a fraction has been thoroughly evaluated to determine their effects on human health and the environment.
Poisonings from industrial and agricultural chemicals are among the top five leading causes of death worldwide, contributing to over 1 million deaths annually and 14 million Disability Adjusted Life Years. The scope of unintended industrial accidents involving chemicals continues to grow rapidly.
Global Chemical Trends: Environment and Health Impacts
According to the UNEP report, global chemical sales are set to increase by around 3 per cent a year until 2050. Africa and the Middle East are set to register an average 40 per cent increase in chemical production between 2012 and 2020, with Latin America expected to see a 33 per cent rise. This chemical 'intensification' of economies, as termed by the UNEP report, means that synthetic chemicals are fast becoming the largest constituents of waste streams and pollution around the world - thereby increasing the exposure of humans and habitats to chemical hazards.
In Sudan, studies show a three-fold elevated risk of mortality for pregnant women engaged in farming where pesticides are used.
A 2009 study of 212 chemicals in the United States found that all the substances examined were detected in some portion of the national population.
Over 3000 chemicals are classified under the EU harmonized classifications as toxic to aquatic life, with levels of toxicity ranging between "very toxic" to "toxic with long lasting harmful effects".
Key environmental concerns include pesticide and fertilizer contamination of rivers and lakes, heavy metal pollution associated with cement and textile production, and dioxin contamination from mining. Run-off from fertilizers and pesticides is contributing to a growing number of oxygen-poor 'dead zones' in coastal waters. According to UNEP's Global Environment Outlook5, released in June 2012, only 13 of the world's 169 coastal dead zones are recovering. As well as harming biodiversity, this can have a serious effect on fisheries - an important source of protein and livelihoods for millions of people worldwide.
Global Chemical Trends: Economic Implications
A transition towards sustainable production, use and disposal of chemicals can yield significant economic benefits in terms of development, poverty reduction and reduced risks to human health and the environment, says the Global Chemicals Outlook. Poor management of chemicals is incurring multi-billion dollar costs worldwide - most of which are not borne by manufacturers or others along the supply chain, but instead by social welfare systems or individuals.
In the USA, poorly managed pesticides have resulted in USD $1.4 billion in crop losses, and USD $2.2 billion in bird losses.
The damage caused by acute water pollution to commercial fisheries in China has been estimated at USD $634 million during the period of one year.
Poor management of volatile organic compounds is responsible for global economic losses estimated at USD $236.3 billion.
In developed and developing countries, longer, more complex supply chains, and the introduction of new chemical compounds mean that products are now more likely to fail to meet safety standards, according to the UNEP report. This can increase the risk of industrial accidents, and the heavy financial and health burdens they bring.
In developing and emerging countries, major economic gains can be made through sustainable agriculture practices ... introducing alternative methods such as crop rotation, providing conditions for natural enemies of pests and better pest monitoring. The report outlines key approaches for a global transition to improved chemicals management - particularly in developing and emerging economies:
About SAICM
The Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) - to which UNEP provides the Secretariat - is a policy framework to promote chemical safety around the world. SAICM has as its overall objective the achievement of the sound management of chemicals throughout their life cycle so that, by 2020, chemicals are produced and used in ways that minimize significant adverse impacts on human health and the environment. This "2020 goal" was adopted by the World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002 as part of the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation.
Objectives are grouped under five themes: risk reduction; knowledge and information; governance; capacity-building and technical cooperation; and illegal international traffic. For more information, visit http://www.saicm.org/
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