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. 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. Southeast Asia is not simply a local or regional problem.
High temperatures appear to lead to rapid dissipation of some POPs to the atmosphere.
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.