From January 24-28, 2022, the Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Review Committee (POPRC) to the Stockholm Convention held its 17th annual meeting to discuss six chemicals for potential inclusion in the list of substances globally restricted or banned. There are multiple steps of the review process, and the evidence presented was strong enough for all six chemicals that the committee moved each onto its respective next step. The six chemicals under consideration were:
- chlorpyrifos (CPS, CAS 2921-88-2); used as a pesticide
- medium-chain chlorinated paraffins (MCCPs, CAS 85535-85-9); used in PVC, polymers, rubber, sealants, adhesives, metalworking fluids, paints, textiles and paper products
- long-chain perfluorocarboxylic acids (LC-PFCAs), their salts and related compounds; used in water and oil-resistant coatings for clothing, textiles, carpets, and food contact paper, firefighting foams, paints, adhesives, polishes, cosmetics
- UV-328 (CAS 25973-55-1); used as a UV absorber in plastics, coatings, and food contact applications
- dechlorane plus (CAS 13560-89-9); used as a flame retardant
- methoxychlor (CAS 72-43-5); used as pesticide in substituting DDT
Of these six substances and groups of substances, MCPPs, LC-PFCAs, and UV-328 are currently used or have formerly been used in food contact applications.
MCPPs and LC-PFCAs were under consideration for the first time by the committee. The POPRC concluded that both groups of chemicals (along with chlorpyrifos) fulfill the criteria for screening as a POP: (i) persistence, (ii) bioaccumulation, (iii) adverse effects, and (iv) potential for long-range environmental transport.
In January 2021, the POPRC determined UV-328 fulfilled the screening requirements as a POP (FPF reported). UV-328 is used to absorb UV light in a variety of plastics and coatings including in food contact applications. Experiments have demonstrated that the chemical causes damage to the liver and kidneys in mammals, and has endocrine-disrupting effects (FPF reported). The EU legally recognized UV-328 as a substance of very high concern (SVHC) in 2014, and it has been on the REACH Authorization list since 2019. UV-328 is unique in that it is the first substance to be proposed for listing under the convention that does not contain any halogens (fluorine, chlorine, or bromine).
The discussion around UV-328 at this year’s meeting of POPRC focused on whether plastic pollution in the ocean and seabird stomachs is a means of long-range environmental transport for plastic additives. Chemical industry representatives have argued that prohibiting use of UV-328 would be burdensome to the industry (FPF reported). A perspective article was published in support of these industry concerns and challenging the environmental long-range transport of UV-328 by plastic debris. However, this was met with strong criticism from academic scientists at ETH Zürich who defended the scientific evidence demonstrating UV-328’s long-range transport and arguing that the perspective article was “based on inaccurate assumptions and cherry-picking of available information” (FPF reported). Ultimately, the committee decided to adopt the proposed draft risk profile of UV-328 and moved the chemical to the final step of the review process under the convention.
UV-328 will now undergo a draft risk management evaluation that includes socio-economic considerations and identifying whether safe alternatives are available. Review of this evaluation will take place at the 18th meeting of the POPs Review Committee in September 2022, and a final decision on its listing within the convention is expected to be made at the meeting of the Conference of the Parties in 2023.
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International Institute for Sustainable Development (January 29, 2022). “Summary report, 24–28 January 2022: 17th Meeting of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee to the Stockholm Convention (POPRC-17).” Earth Negotiations Bulletin
Health Canada. “Health science summary: Long-chain perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs), their salts and related compounds.”
ECHA (October 2020). “Chlorpyrifos: draft proposal for listing chlorpyrifos in annex A to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants.” European Chemicals Agency
Defra (January 18, 2021). “Chlorinated paraffins with carbon chain lengths in the range C14-17” UK Government
