Pops

Many have become vitally concerned about the unique dangers caused by one group of chemicals called persistent organic pollutants (POPs). In many countries, the public is not aware of the serious health problems and environmental harm that persistent organic pollutants and other chemical pollutants cause. Through the persistence and mobility of these compounds, they are released into the global environment and have already done serious damage to the health of wildlife and people. The non-governmental organizations (NGOs) play an important role in helping civil society have a better understanding of POPs, its sources, and the extent of harm that it can cause. As well as the kinds of actions needed to reduce and eliminate exposure to it. NGOs can provide governments with important guidelines and information that can add to implementing the Stockholm Convention also known as POPs treaty. The current level of awareness among NGOs on POPs issues is inadequate.

POPs have spread throughout the environment and have already done serious damage to the health of wildlife and people. It has damaged lands and water ecosystems all over the world. POPs have been found in sea mammals and all living organisms on Earth now carry measurable levels of POPs in their tissues. For people, exposure to these chemicals has been associated with immune dysfunction, breast cancer, and other types of cancer, behavioral abnormalities and contamination in human blood and breast milk. Despite of all the dangers POPs have caused, it continues to be produced, utilized and stored in many countries. These are among the most dangerous compounds ever produced.

Environmental factors play a significant role in the case of breast cancer. For example, PCBs and hexachlorobenzene have been connected to increase risk of breast cancer growth. The exposure to dieldrin has also been connected to increase risk of breast cancer. Another health problem is learning disabilities and autism caused by environmental toxicants. This includes some persistent toxic chemicals such as developmental neurotoxicants. This chemical cause harm to the developing brain of a fetus, and include POPs like dioxins and PCBs. POPs might be affecting people's ability to conceive children. Some fertility problems from these chemicals have effects such as endometriosis in women and lowered sperm counts in men.

There are many different types of non-governmental organizations in Belarus and about 100 work on environmental issues. A local group that is considered one of the leading NGOs works with issues related to POPs, such as waste and pesticides. This is the environmental group Foundation for Realization of Ideas (FRI), a member of the International Persistent Organic Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN). The level of awareness in Belarus society is absolutely poor. The reason for this is the lacking level of information giving out about POPs issues. Mass media doesn't do anything to present information on problems related to chemical pollution and POPs. For one reason, this is possibly the media's quest for profit rather than acting as an information source for the public. It's possible that the reason of this lack of information through the media is that journalist usually doesn't understand the POPs issues themselves.

Many environmental activists lack motivation because they see POPs as a complicated issue. Also, the majority of NGOs just don't have the resources or the man-power to work on it. In the process of implementing Stockholm Convention, it is absolutely necessary to organize an educational campaign for environmental activists before there can be an actual involvement of NGOs. Local groups are often more aware of the local situation. They are in a exceptional position to be able to provide the authorities with information about POPs and the treaty among local residents. It's easier for a NGO to organize a productive teamwork with local and regional authorities. That way, they don't have to try doing it at a national level.

In the early year of 2004, the Senate is likely to vote on legislation that would allow international bureaucrats to start worldwide bans and regulations on chemicals. This also gives the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the authority to essentially ratify chemicals for the United States. The legislation was approved by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee in July of 2004 and must now go through the Senate Agriculture and Foreign Relations committees. The Bush Administration suggested that they should grant the EPA authority to control only the 12 chemicals listed in the treaty. If additional chemicals are added to the POPs treaty list, then the Senate would have to ratify it. Then the full Congress would have to pass any implemented laws.

EPA could choose against bans and regulations, but the legislation makes it difficult for it to succeed in such cases. First, "substantial weight" would forcibly be given by the EPA to the POPs listing decisions. If the agency doesn't force new POPs-mandated chemical bans or regulations, EPA could get sued by the statistic environmental groups. Unless the agency proves that such action is unnecessary, the courts could then order EPA to ban or control it. In addition to that, taxpayers would not only pay for EPA court case cost, but courts could award attorney and witness costs to the accusers. This will also come from taxpayer dollars as well.

EPA uses information from a variety of Federal, State and international organizations in their efforts to protect the safety of America's health and environmental dangers. In May of 1991, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) implemented the Pesticide Data Program (PDP) to collect reliable information on pesticide residues on food supplies.

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