Posted on June, 10 1999

Gland, Switzerland - Following revelations about high levels of cancer-causing dioxin in Belgian food, WWF - the conservation organization - called on delegates to Europe's Third Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health to make the issue of toxic chemicals a top priority. The Conference is being held in London from 16 to 18 June 1999.

WWF noted that the words "toxic" or "chemicals" appear nowhere in the draft declaration due to be signed at the close of the meeting. "The fact that a statement from one of the largest environmental and health events ever held in Europe would not prioritize the insidious threat of toxic chemicals is mystifying," said Clifton Curtis, Director of WWF's Global Toxic Chemicals Initiative.

WWF has drawn up a critique of the draft Ministerial Declaration, calling on the Ministers from 51 countries in Western, Central and Eastern Europe who are attending the Conference to take the lead in addressing toxic chemicals-related issues (1). It also has brought together a panel of experts to highlight issues relating to these toxic chemicals and their impact on health (2).

WWF's concerns regarding the Conference's lack of consideration given to toxic chemicals are strongly reinforced by the current scandal of dioxin-contaminated food in Belgium. "This clearly shows how toxic chemicals can directly affect human health and how essential it is for decision makers to tackle this problem," declared Curtis. "Given these immense stakes, precaution dictates swift action to control, and where necessary ban, the use of such chemicals."

Dioxins are produced by incineration of toxic and urban waste and as unwanted by-products of some industrial chemical processes. They are among the initial list of 12 pesticides, industrial chemicals and by-products that WWF believes should be banned within the global Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) treaty currently being negotiated. Man-made toxic compounds, such as Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals, POPs and other pesticides and industrial chemicals accumulate in the environment, wildlife and humans, threatening life on this planet.

But the case of Belgium is not an isolated one. There is nowhere on Earth that is uncontaminated by toxic chemicals, as growing scientific evidence points out. "Each of us now carries several hundred synthetic chemicals that were not present in the bodies of our great grandparents at the turn of the century," concluded Curtis.

For further information, please contact:

Clifton Curtis, WWF-US, tel.: +1 202 861 8379 ; e-mail: clifton.curtis@wwfus.org

Anita Neville, WWF-UK, tel.: + 44 1483 412 385 ; +44 468 721 170 (mobile); e-mail: aneville@wwfnet.org

Olivier van Bogaert, WWF International, tel.: + 41 22 364 9554 ; e-mail: ovanbogaert@wwfnet.org

NOTES

(1) An "NGO Toxic Chemicals-related Critique of the Draft Declaration of the Third Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health" is now being circulated for sign-ons by NGOs prior to its official release on 16 June. That "Critique" is available for review and reference on the following WWF websites: www.wordwildlife.org and www.wwf-uk.org or by calling Chloe Webster, WWF-UK, at +44 1483 426 444.

(2) Leading experts from science, politics, and environmental organizations will hold a panel discussion, "Toxic Chemicals: Poisons that Threaten the Environment and Health," on Wednesday 16 June, 11:30 am-1:30 pm in the Carlson Room, Westminster Central Halls. The event is part of The Healthy Planet Forum (from 15 to 18 June) featuring participants from professional and voluntary organizations to address the issues to be presented at the Ministerial Conference.