Yasuyuki Shibata
National Institute for Environmental Studies

Stockholm Convention on the protection of human and the environment from persistent organic pollutants (POPs) entered into force in May 2004, and the first Conference of the Parties (COP-1) was held in May this year at Punta del Este, Uruguay. Among the many decisions in COP-1 was the establishment of a new committee, called POPs Review Committee (POPRC), for the addition of new POPs chemicals in Annex A (Elimination), B (Restriction) and C (Unintentional Production). The first member countries from each region and Chairperson of the committee were decided in the COP-1.

Until now (31July, 2005), 5 chemicals have been proposed as candidate POPs for Annex A; pentabromodiphenyl ether (PBDE; Norway), chlordecone (EU), hexabromobiphenyl (HBB; EU), lindane (gamma-HCH; Mexico), and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS; Sweden). Some information on these chemicals as well as other chemicals having similar characteristics will be briefly presented.