Russia alone estimates that it has something in the region of 400,000-500,000 tonnes of PCBs, and it is clear from preliminary country reports from other regions that the problem is equally serious elsewhere. Companies at the moment are obliged to deal with stocks attributable to them, but where there are no labels, no one is willing to take responsibility. It is essential that companies agree to share the costs of eliminating all stocks including unlabelled ones. Ask them what their strategy is for determining and dealing with stockpiles as soon as possible. Publicise the treaty and call for action from your government and companies using the sample press release or information from above.
POPs are highly stable chemical compounds that can last for years or decades before breaking down.
They have been linked to an array of adverse effects, including death, cancer and birth defects among humans and animals. They can travel thousands of miles from their original source and accumulate in fatty tissues of animals and humans. The agreement reached last December and to be ratified in Sweden in May 2001 was hailed from all sides, with governments, industry, environmentalists and consumer groups seeing their interests respected in the treaty.