Toxic chemicals outlawed

STOCKHOLM, Sweden –- The use of 12 highly toxic chemicals is to be banned or limited after more than 100 nations agreed to adopt a U.N. treaty.

The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), which lists a ‘dirty dozen’ of chemicals blamed for causing deaths and diseases, was formally adopted on Tuesday and will be signed on Wednesday.

More than 500 delegates representing 127 nations gathered in Stockholm for the ceremony applauded as conference chairman Kjell Larsson, the Swedish environment minister, declared the treaty adopted.

Swedish Prime Minister Goeran Persson said: "We must put a stop to the use of poisons which threaten plants, animals and the environment in which we live.

AUDIO World Wildlife Fund's Clifton Curtis: The world's most hazardous chemicals 501kb/46secs. AIFF or WAV sound     ALSO The dirty dozen     MESSAGE BOARD Environmental issues

"If we fail with the environmental issues, then all other political work will be pointless."

Persson added: "Dangerous substances do not respect international or national borders. They can only be fought with common strategies."

The treaty, which was crafted last December under the auspices of the U.N. Environment Programme, is aimed at eliminating all hazardous chemicals and lists 12 singled out for priority action.

The so-called "dirty dozen" includes PCBs, dioxins and furans, plus DDT and other pesticides shown to contribute to birth defects, cancer and other ailments in humans and animals.

Production and use of most of the chemicals will be banned as soon as the treaty takes effect, following ratification by at least 50 countries -- a process expected to take four to five years.

Most of the chemicals covered in the treaty are no longer used in industrial countries, such as the United States and Sweden, but they remain popular in developing countries.

Traces of the chemicals have been found in the Arctic after being transported hundreds of miles on air currents.

About 25 countries will be allowed to use DDT to combat malaria in accordance with World Health Organization guidelines until they can develop safer solutions.

The use of electrical equipment containing PCBs will also be allowed until 2025, as long as the equipment does not leak the chemical, which can cause cancer and harm the immune and reproductive systems.

The treaty also calls for reducing releases of dioxins and furans -- toxic by-products of waste burning and industrial production -- "with the goal of their continuing minimisation and, where feasible, ultimate elimination."

President George W. Bush announced last month the U.S. intention of signing the treaty.

He said: "I am pleased to announce my support for the treaty, and the intention of our government to sign it and submit it to the Senate for ratification.

"This treaty achieves a goal shared by this administration."

He added: "These pollutants are linked to developmental defects, cancer and other grave problems in humans and animals.

"The risks are great, and the need for action is clear. We must work to eliminate or at least severely restrict the release of these toxins without delay."

Environmental groups have welcomed the treaty.

"Finally, the global community has accepted the fact -- which is more or less commonsense -- that we cannot continue to attempt to manage persistent toxic substances," Greenpeace spokesman Kevin Stairs said on Monday.

"However, this treaty is only words on paper, and the real impact has to come from implementation, both the government authorities in their implementing legislation, forcing industry to make the necessary changes, and also industry itself."

World Wildlife Fund director Clifton Curtis said: "Governments should waste no time in ratifying the treaty so implementation can proceed as soon as possible."