Cutting Toxics

Worldwatch Live Online Discussion

Anne Platt McGinn: Senior Researcher

February 15, 2002 - 1:00pm EDT

This week's guest is senior researcher Anne Platt McGinn, author of Chapter 4, "Reducing Our Toxic Burden." The amount of toxic materials released into the environment every year is staggering. There has been some significant progress in this area since the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio, particularly with the recently signed Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). Anne will talk about how to accelerate the detoxification of the economy by developing industrial processes that reduce rather than add to the global burden of toxic materials.

Dick Bell, Worldwatch Institute: Welcome to the fifth online discussion about State of the World 2002. Our guest today is Anne Platt McGinn, whose chapter is about reducing the toxic chemicals in our lives. Welcome Anne!

Anne Platt McGinn: Thanks Dick. I look forward to participating.

State College, Pennsylvania: World wide we are seeing the health and environmental implications of chemicals already released. Even if starting tomarrow there were no new additions of chemicals to the biosphere, how do we mitigate those already present?

Anne Platt McGinn: One big step is addressing the waste issue and tonnage of chemicals in everyday use. Technically, this will require safer methods of waste disposal. ANother key step is simply making information available to consumers on the chemicals in current use. There's no question that detoxification is complicated matter but dealing with waste and information will go a long way toward the goal.

Tartu, Estonia: I didn't get my copy of the book yet, so i'm not sure whether You discussed this in Your chapter or not. But here's my question. This morning (GMT) George Bush announced the separate US climate treaty within herself, is it possible that the US will not take any part of a larger scale detoxification processes/process the same way she declined the Kyoto treaty. And if this were true, what concequences do You think this would have?

Anne Platt McGinn: The U.S. has agreed to sign the 2001 Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants and the US EPA has written up a draft national plan implementing some of the goals of the Convention. So while the U.S. is dragging its feet on the climate treaty, there is some leadership in U.S. circles on chemicals issues. Likewise, some U.S. manufacturers and researchers are moving ahead in the field of green chemistry, greener solvents and bio-nased mateirals for example. Although U.S. leadership is still mixed message when it comes to exporting toxic industries, for example, and lack of ratification of other conventions, there is hope.

Washington, D.C.: Anne, What action do you recommend that developing countries take at the Johannesburg Summit to deal with issues in their country. Lynne

Anne Platt McGinn: First step is making sure all governments have ratified the relevant global treaties. Second, advocating for a global phase-out of leaded gasoline and supporting efforts to move away from chemical-intensive agriculture are 2 key steps that developing countries can bring to the fore adn pressure within their countries and globally. Another good step would be to fight for funding so that the goals of various treaties are met and technologies are available to deal with POPs waste, for example.

Warwick, NY 10990: How can George W Bush be made to realize the finiteness of time toward curbing pollutants

Anne Platt McGinn: ONe idea is through personal experience: so visitng a series of toxic waste dumps might help put the issue in perspective. Another tactic would be to increase pressure on the PResidentfrom businesses and companies that realize that using toxic, persistent chemicals hamrs health and environment, as well as their economic bottom-line. And showcasing industries that have switched to less toxic processes and seen the benefits would help too.

Santa Fe: I've got a new baby, and I'm wondering whether there's anything in all the plastic toys people are giving us that could be bad for her. She spends a lot of time sticking things in her mouth.

Anne Platt McGinn: Since the late 1980s, the Consumer Products Safety Council has advised U.S. manufacturers of baby toys to stay away from polyvinyl plastic (PVC). Today, many teething toys are labelled as PVC-free, so be sure to buy those ones. The main problem with plastic toys comes from the phthatlates in flexible items (teething rings, not toy trucks). These additives are not chemically bonded to the resin so they tend to "leak" out over time, and esp when a baby is sucking on them. In recent years, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has tested and found various phathaltes cause reproductive harm in wildlife and lab animals. Little is known about the long-term effects on humans, esp babies, so the best bet is to stay away from the flexible plastic toys that are not clearly labelled as PVC-free.

Boston, MA: Is there anything I can do on a day-to-day basis to reduce my exposure to some of these toxics? Or do you need to live inside a bubble if you really want no exposure?

Anne Platt McGinn: Fortunately, there is a lot you can do:
1. Buy organic foods, esp, milk, cheese, yogurt, meat and fish, to minimize your exposure to pesticides that bioaccumulate in the food chain and our bodies.
2. In Massachusetts, you can support statewide legislation for children's environmental health.
3. To the extent possible buy PVC-free products
4. Have your home tested for lead, esp if you have children
5. Reduce exposure to mercury by exchanging your thermometer for a digital one, having the mercury-bsaed light switches in your car hood and engine removed, and supporting legislation to bring "grandfathered" coal-fired power plants up to code by reducing emissions.
6. Minimize consumption of fish high on the food chain (e.g. swordfish and shark) which bioaccumulate mercury etc.

Miami, FL: I hate all this gloom-and-doom stuff. What's the best thing that's happened in the last 10 years to protect us from toxic stuff?

Anne Platt McGinn: From 1988 to 1999, emissions of 300 toxic chemicals in the U.S. dropped by 45 percent, thanks in large part to the Toxic Release Inventory.
Since 1976, blood lead levels in American adults have dropped 75 percent, and those in children dropped 85 percent.
Global lead emissions dropped two thrids from their peak in the mid-1980s to mid-1990s, thanks in large part to phaseout of leaded gasoline. (80 percent of world's gasoline today is unleaded.)
Although annual emissions have dropped, the reservoir of lead in the environment remains large.

Centennial College, Toronto, Canada: Hi Anne.... We in Toronto are endeavoring to addess Sustainability Issues... What is your view of the Canadian efforts towards reduction in the use of toxic materials and in the detoxification of existing environmental pollutants.... What general suggestions/recommendations would you make to our local politicians...

Anne Platt McGinn: The Canadians have been at the forefront of global chemical issues, pushing for the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, for example. Canada was one of the first ratifying nations of this Convention. That said, one area that Canada is lagging is in domestic hazardous waste treatment. Canada still imports more hazardous waste than they produce each year, primarily from the United States. In part, because untreated wastes are permitted to be dumped in landfills, something that is being addressed by Environment Canada and, I believe, under the Commission for Envrionmental Cooperation, environmental arm of NAFTA. Another area of concern is the use of a manganese-base compound (MMT) in gasoline. Pressuring political leaders to phase this compound out would help.

Chicago, Illinois: Do you know whether or not using pesticides to kill ants and other pests in the house if expose to or inhaled will have a significant affect on people and if so which age group babies, children, teens, adults, senior citizens. Such as using Raid? Also will it have an affect on pets such as cats?

Anne Platt McGinn: Yes, household pest killers do expose household pets and people to harmful insecticides. This is one of the reasons U.S. Envrionmental Protection Agency withdrew registration for dursban recently. I would refer you to EPA's website for detailed info on particular products. In general though, young children and elderly are in teh most vulnerable categories.

Tartu, Estonia: This question concerns the antifreeze fluids. While the western world is pushing for recycled antifreeze fluids, which is more expensive than the non-recycled antifreeze fluids coming from pirate-factories in the ex-Soviet Union, and other areas. Now, in a demand-supply economy, how do You think it's possible to "make" people buy the more expensive recycled antifreeze and therefore prevent them from buying cheaper pirate antifreeze?

Anne Platt McGinn: In general, there is no way to force people to buy something, but using market incentives (taxes, refunds, "good" subsidies) will help lead the way, as evidence from numerous sectors show. Differential pricing has helped phase-in unleaded gasoline for example. Including the prices of disposal and clean-up in the up front cost is another way to use the market to reflect the true cost of products.

New Rochelle, NY: I understand that energy saving lightbulbs contain mercury. They can greatly help us reduce energy use but may also contaminate our environment. What is your opinion?

Anne Platt McGinn: Compact fluorescent blubls do contain tiny amounts of mercury (~5 mg),and manufacturers have already made some strides in reudcing this quantity (to ~3 mg). Two issues: 1. Recognize that this quantity of mercury is tiny compared to mercury from coal-fired power plants, the number one source of mercury in the U.S. Globally, ~1,475 tons of mercury are emitted each year from fossil fuel combustion.
2. it's important to keep the energy savings from CFLs in perspective. Using CFLs will mitigate building new power plants, which will prevent new sources of mercury. I have the #s and can send off-line if you want.

3. that said, the mercury in CFLs becomes a danger in disposal adn accidental breakage. As long as CFLs are disposed of in safe and proper manner, so the mercury can be contained and dealt with carefully, then the contamination and exposure problem can be minimized.

Toppenish, Wa: In a recent announcement, it was said that fish within the Columbia River are contaminated. This is a concern to the members of the Yakama Nation, because salmon is and has always been a main source of food which was given to us by our Creator. It is difficult to say that the salmon are being contaminated by one point source, because there are many point sources contaminating the Columbia River. Any suggestions? This is our food!

Anne Platt McGinn: Dealing with non-point runoff, from agriculture in particular is a key challenge. Another source of contamination in salmon are point sources, such as utility plants. unfortunately, there are no easy answers. Farm-raised salmon presents its own problems, and addressing the sources of contamination in wild runs will take time. A key step is pressuring politicians and making the connection for the public between pollution and food, something that you did in your message. Keep fighting!

Aberdeen, MD: There is a lot of (light) industry going up around my home. How can I find out what types of chemicals/toxins might be released around me?

Anne Platt McGinn: the best source of information is the Toxics Release Inventory, it is available online through the EPA website. You can search by industry, zip code, etc. ANother good source is the Community Working Group on Right-to-Know,also on the web.

Aberdeen, MD: I recently watched a program on NAFTA and how companies are using Article 11 (I think) to get around environmental issues. Even if the US and other countries signed documentation to reduce/eliminate certain toxins into the environment, could they still go into another country and release the same pollutants they've agreed to reduce/eliminate and use NAFTA as a loophole? Could the same be done in the US if another counrty decided to set up business here? in the agreement?

Anne Platt McGinn: This is a good question for my colleague, Hilary French, who will be online in the next few weeks to talk about global governance. (She wrote chapter 9 in "State of the World" and a recent book, "Vanishing Borders: Protecting the Planet in the Age of Globalization." She can better answer this question for you.

Dick Bell, Worldwatch Institute: Thanks for joining us today Anne, and thanks to everyone who stopped by or asked questions. Come back this time next week for a chat with Michael Renner, who can talk with you about his chapter on the links between resources and raw materials and armed conflict.

Anne Platt McGinn: And thanks to everyone who participated. Some good questions and food for thought. Thank you.