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UNEP's newsletter from March 2020 on scientific articles, research and knowledge on selected topics.TopicTitleChemicals and Waste / PollutionAdvancing environmental exposure assessment science to benefit society / A. Caplin et al. 2019. Nature.Assessment of air pollution caused by illegal e-waste burning to evaluate the human health risk / C. Gangwar et al. Environment International 125, Pages 191-199, 2019. ScienceDirect.A Comparison of hourly to annual air pollutant emissions: Implications for estimating acute exposure and public health risk / M. Stewart et al

Plastics are used across the economy and in diverse downstream sectors such as packaging, construction, transportation, healthcare, textiles, and electronics. Durable products, ranging from construction materials to medical devices make up nearly half of the global plastics market, while packaging products are the largest uses of single-use plastics. Some plastics contain chemicals that are considered to be harmful for health and the environment. Phthalates, poly-fluorinated chemicals, bisphenol A (BPA), brominated flame retardants and antimony trioxide are considered most harmful for

This document has been developed for officials in government who have a role in regulating lead paint, to provide them with concise technical information on the rationale and steps required to phase out lead paint. “Lead paint” or “lead-based paint” is paint to which one or more lead compounds have been intentionally added by the manufacturer to obtain specific characteristics. This document explains the health and economic importance of preventing lead exposure by establishing legally binding controls to stop the

Lead has toxic effects on almost all body systems and is especially harmful for children and pregnant women. Lead paint is an avoidable source of exposure to lead. “Lead paint” or “lead-based paint” is paint to which one or more lead compounds have been intentionally added by the manufacturer to obtain specific characteristics. One important way to prevent exposure is for countries to establish legally binding regulatory measures prohibiting the addition of lead to paint.This policy brief summarizes key information

Medicinal products are physiologically highly active substances that enter the water and soil, particularly through human and animal excretion. They are being detected in the environment to a greater and greater extent, often in concentrations that are not harmless to humans and other living organisms. The consumption of pharmaceuticals is increasing, mainly due to the aging of the population. Consequently, measures to reduce environmental pollution are therefore necessary.

The OECD releases the Revised Guidance Document 150 on Standardised Test Guidelines for Evaluating Chemicals for Endocrine Disruption originally published in 2012 and updated in 2018 to reflect new and updated OECD test guidelines, as well as reflect on scientific advances in the use of test methods and assessment of the endocrine activity of chemicals. The document is intended to provide guidance for evaluating chemical using standardised test guidelines. Specific objectives include providing a description of the OECD conceptual framework

The Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead Paint is working to achieve the phase-out of the manufacture, sale and import of paints containing lead through the establishment of laws. The Lead Paint Alliance publishes a regular newsletter to inform its partners and interested stakeholders on the latest achievements and progress towards its goal.In the newsletter, you will find news articles on lead paint, updates about global efforts to address the issue, progress towards law, and update about our partners.

Over the past few years the use of natural resources and the production of chemicals have increased dramatically – and a further increase is forecast. Whereas earlier the main focus was on local effects on health and the environment, in the meantime it has become clear that current ways of dealing with natural resources, chemicals and products manufactured from chemicals are threatening the biosphere as a whole.In 2009 and 2015 scientists introduced the concept of planetary boundaries. As part of

Pollution is the largest source of premature death in the developing world, causing approximately three times more deaths than HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria combined (2018 Report of the Lancet Commission on pollution and health). It disproportionately affects persons, groups and peoples in vulnerable situations reflecting both historical and ongoing discrimination, racism, and power imbalances that have given rise to powerful social movements for environmental justice. Those responsible for the harmful impacts of hazardous substances must be held legally accountable for