UNEP leads eradication of chemical pollutants

The U.N. Environmental Programme (UNEP) has identified major chemicals used mostly in the horticultural sector in some countries, including Kenya, for elimination as part of a new war to deal with the impact of chemical pollution blamed for increasing the disease burden.

UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner said Wednesday the organisation financed efforts by Kenya to stop the use of methyl bromide in pesticides used in the horticultural sector. This is after scientific research reports on the effects of the chemical pollutants.

In an exclusive interview with Xinhua, the UNEP Executive Director said the methyl bromide chemical, also known as one of the ozone layer depleting chemicals, was one among the over 100,000 chemicals currently being studied for their impact on the environment for possible elimination.

"The role of UNEP is to bring science and technology and assemble it for use by the whole world. We work with governments around the world to develop appropriate responses," Steiner told Xinhua.

Steiner was speaking after addressing a gathering of 300 delegates attending the preparatory meeting of the U.N. Environment Assembly's Open Ended Committee of Permanent Representatives to discuss strategies required to deal with environmental threats, among them, chemical pollution.

"UNEP is trying to demonstrate the centrality of the environment to the effective management of public health and the need for proper management of risks associated with chemicals," Steiner said.

According to the Kenyan Cabinet Secretary of Environment Judi Wakhungu, the disease burden caused by the environmental pollution was currently estimated at 28 percent of all reported health cases.

"We believe the disease burden could be higher. We see an increment in the respiratory diseases such as cancer, asthma and other diseases. Our approach is to reform the health and environment approaches within the government to deal with these diseases," Wakhungu said.

Efforts to eliminate the use of methyl bromide in the horticulture sector have been continuing since the chemical was banned in 2000 for its ozone layer depleting properties.

In Kenya, Steiner said UNEP was funding efforts to have the chemical eliminated alongside other chemicals identified under the Montreal Protocol which deals with the ozone-layer depleting chemicals.

"These have a major impact in the generation of greenhouse gases," Steiner noted.

Kenya's Ministry of Health said the use of methyl bromide, a fumigant, was halted in April 2015 under the commitments made by the Kenyan government in the Montreal Protocol.

UNEP contributed to the elimination of lead, a chemical previously used in petroleum products because of its health hazards.

Steiner said UNEP was continuing with steps to eliminate chemicals under various protocols, including the Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions, which are continuing to monitor "persistent pollutants."

"We have successfully implemented the global initiative to remove lead in fossil fuels. We continue to monitor its use especially in paints because of its effects on women and children," Steiner warned.

In his address before the ambassadors accredited to the UNEP, which was also attended by ministers of environment, Steiner said the environment had a direct bearing on health. He called for policies to deal with premature death caused by chemical pollutants.

Earlier, the UNEP Executive Director called on governments to come up with policies to phase out the ozone-layer depleting substances which are responsible for 2 million cancer cases every year, adding that ending the use of lead saved nearly a million lives every year. Endit