ASIA HAS NOT ESCAPED GLOBAL CHEMICAL POLLUTION

17 March 2000

AMSTERDAM/HONG KONG -- Asia is being threatened by pollution with highly toxic man-made chemicals known as persistent organic pollutants (POPs), which are found in elevated levels in air, water, fish, marine mammals and in human tissues, reveals a report released by Greenpeace today.

The report, entitled "Unseen Poisons in Asia", reviews studies of persistent organic pollutants in South and South East Asia and Oceania and reveals evidence of continuous and widespread production and use of some of the most hazardous POPs, such as the pesticides DDT and HCH, in some parts the region.

The report also suggests that Asia, through its tropical climate with high temperatures, contributes significantly to the global POPs pollution problem through rapid dissipation to the atmosphere.

"The report demonstrates that parts of Asia are still significant generators of persistent organic pollutants, particularly the pesticides HCH and DDT, despite the fact that these chemicals have been linked to catastrophic effects in wildlife", said Dr. Michelle Allsopp, author of the report from the Greenpeace Research Laboratories, University of Exeter, in the United Kingdom.

"High levels of HCH were evident in human tissues from India and China reflecting its widespread use in these countries. The pesticide DDT is still used in some tropical countries of South East Asia, and particularly in India, for control of malaria-carry mosquitoes. The environment in general and particularly some marine mammals such as dolphins, contained high levels of DDT relative to its breakdown products, suggesting some use of DDT in China even though production was officially ceased in 1983", Allsopp added.

"The current release of POPs in South- Southeast Asia is not simply a local or regional problem. High temperatures appear to lead to rapid dissipation of some POPs to the atmosphere. Therefore, persistent chemicals released in tropical regions add to the global contamination problem, and to the burned of ‘unseen poisons’ in our bodies," said Allsopp, on board Greenpeace’s flagship the Rainbow Warrior docked today in Hong Kong as part of its five country Toxic Free Asia tour.

The report also raises the alarm that the full scale of the POPs pollution problem is not yet known due to large gaps in the scientific data on levels of POPs in the environment of South East Asia and Oceania. Most scientific studies are restricted to investigating levels of a few organochlorines, such as DDT, and many other persistent and potentially toxic organic chemical undoubtedly remain largely overlooked.

Greenpeace called on Asian governments to support the global elimination of persistent toxic chemicals at the United Nations meeting of over 100 governments next week in Bonn, in Germany. Greenpeace demands that these chemicals are eliminated at source and stresses a need for a strong global treaty with appropriate financial and administrative mechanisms to ensure that all countries, rich or poor, can safely eliminate the use of these chemicals.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

- Dr. Michelle Allsopp, Greenpeace Laboratories via Luisa Tam, Greenpeace China, +852 90967101 or +852 2854 8300;
- Matt Ruchel, Greenpeace Toxics Campaigner, Tel: +61 408837138 (mobile);
- Clement Lam, Greenpeace China +852 9862 1877 (mobile);
- Teresa Merilainen, Greenpeace International Press Officer, +31 20 5236637.

The report "Unseen Poisons in Asia: A review of persistent organic pollutant loads in South and Southeast Asia and Oceania" and a media briefing are available here:
www.greenpeace.org/~toxics/reports/asiapops.pdf
www.greenpeace.org/~toxics/reports/asiapopsbriefing.html

Representatives of over 100 governments are meeting next week 20- 25 March in Bonn, Germany, at the fourth Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC4) on Persistent Organic Pollutants. Auspiced by the United Nations Environment Programme, the negotiations are seeking to establish an international treaty to phase-out POPs.