Luscombe said more chemicals than the dozen listed should be included in pact, among them brominated flame retardants used in many modern computers. The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation said last week that 500,000 tonnes of ageing pesticide waste threatened millions of people in developing nations. And the deal includes some opt-outs. Nations including South Africa successfully argued that they needed to keep using the pesticide DDT to fight malaria. DDT, sprayed on walls, keeps away mosquitoes even though DDT itself has been tied to chronic health problems in humans.
Malaria is worse, killing more than a million people a year.
The convention will enter into force when 50 nations have ratified it, likely to take two to three years. Canada is set to ratify on Wednesday after rushing through legislation. The convention aims to control production, import, export, disposal, and use of POPs.