World Health Organization (WHO) report on hazardous chemicals
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there has been a 29 percent increase in deaths due to exposure to hazardous chemicals between 2016 and 2019.
- According to the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates, 2 million people died due to exposure to hazardous chemicals in 2019, compared to 1.56 million in 2016.
- About half of these deaths were caused by exposure to lead, and the resulting cardiovascular disease.
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the third leading cause of death worldwide, causing 3.23 million deaths in 2019.
- Hazardous chemicals are substances that can cause adverse health effects such as poisoning, respiratory problems, skin rashes, allergies, allergic sensitization, cancer and other health problems from exposure.
Sources of exposure to hazardous chemicals include: paints, medicines, cosmetics, cleaning chemicals, detergents, gas cylinders, refrigerant gases, pesticides, herbicides, diesel fuel, petrol, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), etc.
International hazardous waste conventions
The Basel Convention on the Control of Trans-boundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal was adopted in 1989 to control cross-border movement of hazardous wastes and their disposal.
Rotterdam Convention on Prior Informed Consent: Procedures for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade. It was approved by the Union Cabinet adopted in the year 1998 to amend the Central Sector Scheme of financing facility under ‘Agriculture Infrastructure Fund’.
Source – The Hindu
