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Resource Pointer #330 (Toxic Chemical Management)
July 28, 2003

For copies of the following resources, please contact the appropriate publishers or organizations directly.

*Waste Incineration: A Dying Technology, 2003* Neil Tangri. Catalogues the environmental degradation and human rights abuses associated with waste incineration including dioxin release and other forms of pollution, energy loss, unsustainability, and health problems, especially cancer and reproductive problems. Assesses proposed alternatives to incineration such as landfills, recycling, and cleaner production aimed at reducing waste. Discusses the growing resistance to incineration and the international law and policy governing waste management. 101 pages. Available for free download at: http://www.no-burn.org/. Contact GAIA, 1442 A Walnut St., #20, Berkeley, CA 94709; phone (510) 524-4000; fax (510) 524-4228; email gaia@no-burn.org; Web site http://www.no-burn.org/.

*Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights: Adverse effects of the illicit movement and dumping of toxic and dangerous products and wastes on the enjoyment of human rights, report and addendum, 2003* Fatma-Zohra Ouhachi-Vesely. Sites several UN Commission on Human Rights’ resolutions and reports addressing illegal toxic waste dumping and trade. Highlights the human rights issues associated with toxic waste dumping such as maquiladoras, or American factories just south of US-Mexico border that dump industrial waste and pollute the air and water of the border cities; shipbreaking, or the dismantling of ships for the recovery of parts; and the export of spent lead-acid batteries. Assesses current policy and provides recommendations for future restrictions and programs to limit illegal toxic waste trade and dumping. 50 pages. Available for free download at http://193.194.138.190/Huridocda/Huridoca.nsf/TestFrame/ca333ad99945a709c1256cd90052f2a8?Opendocument. Contact UN Commission on Human Rights, HCHR-UNOG, 8-14 Avenue de la Paix, 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland; phone (41-22) 917-9000; fax (41 22) 917-9011; email 1503@ohchr.org; Web site http://www.unhchr.ch/.

*Hazard Investigation: Improving Reactive Hazard Management, 2002* U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board. Recounts prior instances of chemical disasters to determine the impacts of reactive incidents. Examines how industry and government agencies such as the Occupational Safety and Health Organization (OSHA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) address hazardous chemical management, and recommends additional regulation and increased responsibility of the hazardous chemical industry. 145 pages. US$8.95 for downloadable document and US$36 for hard copy. Contact National Technical Information Services (NTIS), 5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, VA 22161; phone (703) 605-6585; email info@ntis.gov; Web site http://www.ntis.gov/.

*Domestically Prohibited Goods, Trade in Toxic Waste and Technology Transfer: Issues and Developments, 2001* Sandeep Singh. Discusses the growing trans-boundary movement in Domestically Prohibited Goods (DPGs), hazardous wastes, and dirty technology and the role of industrialized countries and globalization in DPG trade. Highlights the shortcomings of the 1989 Basel Convention aimed at limiting the trade of DPGs and the harmful effects of DPG trade on the environmental and human health in developing countries. Provides case studies for illustration and recommendations for improvement. 76 pages. Contact South Asia Watch on Trade, Economics & Environment (SAWTEE), P.O. Box 14307, Guatam Buddha Marg, Anam Nagar, Kathmandu, Nepal; phone (977) 126-8681; fax (977) 126-8022; email rmadi@propublic.wlink.com.np; Web site http://www.cuts.org.

*A Precautionary Approach to Toxic Chemicals, 2001* World Wildlife Fund (WWF). Applies the precautionary principle to chemical management, calling for prevention of environmental degradation and threats to human health rather than treatment. Provides an overview of precautionary policy and risk assessment and frames it within a toxics management context. 4 pages. Contact Global Toxic Chemicals Initiative, WWF, 1250 24th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20037-1175; phone (202) 778-9625; fax (202) 530-0743; email toxics@wwfus.org; Web site http://www.worldwildlife.org/toxics/.

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