NICNAS Community Engagement NICNAS Community Engagement ForumForum
Is the regulation of industrial Is the regulation of industrial chemicals in Australia chemicals in Australia
effective?effective?
Participatory democracy in chemicals Participatory democracy in chemicals managementmanagement
SAICMSAICM UN Convention on Human RightsUN Convention on Human Rights Bahai DeclarationBahai Declaration Aarhus ConventionAarhus Convention
Chemicals – A human rights issueChemicals – A human rights issue
‘‘living in a pollution-free world is a basic living in a pollution-free world is a basic human right’ -human right’ -2001 UNHRC2001 UNHRC
‘ ‘those who pollute violate human rights’those who pollute violate human rights’
"Human rights cannot be secured in a degraded or "Human rights cannot be secured in a degraded or polluted environment….the fundamental right to polluted environment….the fundamental right to life is threatened by exposures to toxic chemicals, life is threatened by exposures to toxic chemicals, hazardous wastes & contaminated drinking water."hazardous wastes & contaminated drinking water."
Convention on the Rights of the Child 1989 - child’s Convention on the Rights of the Child 1989 - child’s right to health, adequate food and clean water right to health, adequate food and clean water ‘‘taking into consideration dangers & risks of taking into consideration dangers & risks of environmental pollution’environmental pollution’
Environmental JusticeEnvironmental Justice“…the principle that all people and communities are entitled to equal protection of “…the principle that all people and communities are entitled to equal protection of
environmental and public health laws and regulations.“environmental and public health laws and regulations.“
RRobert Bullard, obert Bullard, Dumping in Dixie: Race,class, and Environmental Quality, 1990.Dumping in Dixie: Race,class, and Environmental Quality, 1990. Drivers for changeDrivers for change
It is estimated that around one in three of all occupational diseases It is estimated that around one in three of all occupational diseases recognised in Europe each year is due to exposure to hazardous chemicals.recognised in Europe each year is due to exposure to hazardous chemicals.
A wide range of chemical residues are now found in human breast milk with A wide range of chemical residues are now found in human breast milk with Australia showing some of the highest levels. (ie flame retardants)Australia showing some of the highest levels. (ie flame retardants)
Environmental monitoring is showing chemical residues extensively in the Environmental monitoring is showing chemical residues extensively in the environment. Air, water and soil.environment. Air, water and soil.
Most of the 38 000 industrial chemicals available for use in Australia have Most of the 38 000 industrial chemicals available for use in Australia have not been adequately assessed for human health and environmental not been adequately assessed for human health and environmental impacts.impacts.
Insufficient volume and use data, critical for exposure assessments, has Insufficient volume and use data, critical for exposure assessments, has been provided by industry to Australian regulators.been provided by industry to Australian regulators.
Impending climate change impacts. Re-release of POP’sImpending climate change impacts. Re-release of POP’s
EDC’s - Hormone disruption could pose a more imminent threat to EDC’s - Hormone disruption could pose a more imminent threat to humankind than climate change. (Colborn and Clement 1992)humankind than climate change. (Colborn and Clement 1992)
Community Engagement ForumCommunity Engagement Forum
Established 2003 Established 2003
Representing:Representing:-Worker health and safety (ACTU)-Worker health and safety (ACTU)-Public health (PHAA and CHOICE)-Public health (PHAA and CHOICE)-Environment and community interests (AEN)-Environment and community interests (AEN)
“…“…recognising the importance of effective recognising the importance of effective engagement in formulating regulatory policies engagement in formulating regulatory policies and practices that operate well and best meet and practices that operate well and best meet the needs of all stakeholders.”the needs of all stakeholders.”
CEF supporting NICNASCEF supporting NICNAS
Community Engagement CharterCommunity Engagement Charter Community Engagement FrameworkCommunity Engagement Framework Developing Community Engagement StrategiesDeveloping Community Engagement Strategies Facilitating ECR National Engagement StrategyFacilitating ECR National Engagement Strategy Review of ECR National Engagement StrategyReview of ECR National Engagement Strategy CEF E-Bulletin (quarterly)CEF E-Bulletin (quarterly) Submissions- reforms/works, PEC’s, CRIS, Nano, Cosmetics, Submissions- reforms/works, PEC’s, CRIS, Nano, Cosmetics,
Disinfectants, ECR, LRCC, COAGDisinfectants, ECR, LRCC, COAG Presentations – HAZMATPresentations – HAZMAT Gateway engagement with sectorsGateway engagement with sectors Providing equitable representation – ECR, ISG, TWP, NAG, CAGProviding equitable representation – ECR, ISG, TWP, NAG, CAG CEF WorkplansCEF Workplans
*CEF Appraisal (Sass)*CEF Appraisal (Sass)
Priorities 2011Priorities 2011
Implementation of the ECRImplementation of the ECR Regulatory Framework for Nano-Regulatory Framework for Nano-
materialsmaterials International harmonisationInternational harmonisation LRCCLRCC NICNAS WebsiteNICNAS Website ReformsReforms
Issues of Concern for CEFIssues of Concern for CEF
LRCC evaluationLRCC evaluation Assessment of PhthalatesAssessment of Phthalates Assessment of PBDE’s, HBCD’sAssessment of PBDE’s, HBCD’s Prioritisation of AIC’sPrioritisation of AIC’s Unassessed chemicals in useUnassessed chemicals in use(classified hazardous/restricted overseas)(classified hazardous/restricted overseas)
Community capacity buildingCommunity capacity building-Chemical Safety Forum-Chemical Safety Forum
Cause for concern?Cause for concern?
Approx 1500 new chems every yearApprox 1500 new chems every year 6974 chemicals reported under 6974 chemicals reported under
exempt categories 2010-11exempt categories 2010-11 38000 unassessed available for use38000 unassessed available for use No data on LRCC programNo data on LRCC program Complicated regulatory frameworkComplicated regulatory framework(More than nine separate government agencies involved)(More than nine separate government agencies involved)
Chemical risks in the environmentChemical risks in the environment
BTEX and fraccing chemicalsBTEX and fraccing chemicals-LNG and CSG processing polluting air, water and soil-LNG and CSG processing polluting air, water and soil
LeadLead-children’s articles, playground equipment, residues in soil and waste streams-children’s articles, playground equipment, residues in soil and waste streams
EPDMEPDM- extensive use of Soft fall and fake turf, leaching into groundwater, residues extensive use of Soft fall and fake turf, leaching into groundwater, residues
in waste streamsin waste streams
PlasticsPlastics-residual wastes pollute air, water and soil-residual wastes pollute air, water and soil
Nano-materialsNano-materials-No regulatory framework or nano-pollution monitoring-No regulatory framework or nano-pollution monitoring
Chemical risks to childrenChemical risks to children
BPABPA- Aus voluntary 12 month phase-out vs overseas bansAus voluntary 12 month phase-out vs overseas bans
PhthalatesPhthalates- in use in Australia but restricted EU, US, Canada and Japanin use in Australia but restricted EU, US, Canada and Japan- Slow assessment of 25 prioritySlow assessment of 25 priority
PBDE’s and PFOSPBDE’s and PFOS- Upholstery and Carpet underlay, babies exposed, high levels in Aus Upholstery and Carpet underlay, babies exposed, high levels in Aus
breastmilk/bloodbreastmilk/blood
Unassessed chemicals is domestic productsUnassessed chemicals is domestic products-- No exposure assessments, control of use data leaves children No exposure assessments, control of use data leaves children
vulnerable.vulnerable.
Regulatory FailureRegulatory Failure
Chemical assessments often lackChemical assessments often lackconsideration of -consideration of -
Critical exposure dataCritical exposure data Ecotoxicological dataEcotoxicological data Epidemiology dataEpidemiology data Children’s specific vulnerabilityChildren’s specific vulnerability Environmental fate and disposal dataEnvironmental fate and disposal data Body burden and Endocrine Disruption dataBody burden and Endocrine Disruption data Multiple chemical, cumulative and synergistic Multiple chemical, cumulative and synergistic
datadata
Community ExpectationsCommunity Expectations
No National Adverse Reporting No National Adverse Reporting SchemeScheme
No annotation of AICs No annotation of AICs (ie substitution advice, (ie substitution advice, hazard warnings)hazard warnings)
No Powers to ban or restrictNo Powers to ban or restrict No information gathering powersNo information gathering powers No toxics elimination strategyNo toxics elimination strategy No Children’s Chemical Safety Act.No Children’s Chemical Safety Act.
Climate Change and ChemicalsClimate Change and Chemicals
IIncreased release of chemicals into the environmentncreased release of chemicals into the environment
Changes in :Changes in : temperature, precipitation affect long range transport & temperature, precipitation affect long range transport &
distribution distribution temperature increases volatilizing & air emissionstemperature increases volatilizing & air emissions primary & secondary remobilisation primary & secondary remobilisation release from melting snow, ice, permafrost soils, glaciers release from melting snow, ice, permafrost soils, glaciers extreme weather events, flooding extreme weather events, flooding salinity - bioavailability of substancessalinity - bioavailability of substances degradation rates degradation rates toxicity of some chemicals toxicity of some chemicals sensitivity of wildlife to exposures sensitivity of wildlife to exposures
Synergy of exposures & climate environmental Synergy of exposures & climate environmental stresses, affect adaptability, immune function, stresses, affect adaptability, immune function, reproductive viabilityreproductive viability
