Chapter 1 - Preamble

Section 1 - Social & Economic Dimensions

Section 2 - Conservation and Management of Resources
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22

Section 3 - Strengthening the Role of Major Groups

Section 4 - Means of Implementation

Complete text of Agenda 21: Chapter 19
Chapter 19: Safer Use of Toxic Chemicals

Chemicals are used throughout the world and are necessary to meet social and economic goals, but a better job must be made of reducing their health and environmental impacts.

Some of the world’s major industrial areas are so contaminated by chemicals that there is damage to human health, genetic structures and reproduction. In addition, long-range pollution is affecting the Earth’s atmosphere and climate. The illegal traffic in toxic and dangerous products and wastes involves chemicals banned in one country as hazardous being shipped to other countries, often developing nations.

There are about 100,000 commercial chemicals, although only 1,500 of them account for 95 per cent of world production. However, crucial data needed to assess the health and environmental risks of a great number of these high-volume chemicals are lacking.

Chemicals can be used in a cost-effective manner and with a high degree of safety, but most countries, particularly developing nations, lack the ability to manage chemicals safely. Countries need to develop and share expertise in assessing chemical risks.

Governments can control chemical hazards through pollution prevention, emission inventories, product labeling, use limitations, procedures for safe handling and exposure regulations. They could phase out or ban high-risk chemicals that are toxic, persistent and bio-accumulative, and whose use cannot be adequately controlled. Governments should consider policies based on the principle of producer liability.

Risks can be reduced by using less-toxic chemicals or even non-chemical technologies. Governments should review pesticides whose acceptance was based on criteria now recognized as insufficient or outdated, and look at replacing them with other pest-control methods such as biological controls.

Governments should provide the public with information on chemical hazards in the languages of those who use the materials. In addition, the world needs a chemical-hazard labeling system using easily understandable symbols. Countries also need emergency-response centres, including poison-control centres.

Industries should:

• Develop an international code of principles on the provision of information on potential risks and environmentally sound disposal practices.
• Adopt community right-to-know programmes that provide information on accidental releases and annual routine emissions of toxic chemicals.
• Ensure that management of toxic chemicals is not less strict in one country than in another.

There is currently no global agreement on traffic in toxic and dangerous products. Governments should control the export of banned or restricted chemicals and should provide information on any exports to importing countries. There should be joint responsibilities between nations in the trade of chemicals.

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