Exposure to very low doses of certain POPs can lead to cancer, damage to the central and peripheral nervous systems, diseases of the immune system, reproductive disorders, and interference with infant and child development. There is sufficient evidence of harm to wildlife and humans to demonstrate that international action is required to reduce the risk of POPs to health and environment. Shifting from POPs to chemical and non-chemical alternatives is the key to reducing the impact of these hazardous substances. A high priority is finding alternatives to hazardous chemicals for insect control. There are many safer chemical and non-chemical alternatives, but their development and dissemination will require time, money, and training.
Many countries face barriers to identifying and controlling releases of POPs.
In many cases, technology transfer and development assistance are needed to bring replacements into widespread use. Status of international agreements Because of the global risks posed by the long-range transport of POPs, the international community is calling for global action to reduce and eliminate releases of these chemicals. The first meeting on such an agreement was held in Montreal in June 1998. The second round of talks is tentatively scheduled for early 1999, and the negotiations are expected to conclude by the year 2000. Scientific criteria will be developed for identifying other POPs that may be added to the list later.