Poisonous legacy

More than a hundred nations will pledge to rid the world of a dozen toxic
chemicals known as persistent organic pollutants (POPs), which include
pesticides such as DDT and industrial chemicals like PCBs. Despite its seeming
aversion to international treaties, the Bush administration has promised to sign
the treaty in Stockholm next week. Even so, the treaty, drawn up last year
(New Scientist, 16 December 2000, p 6),
faces an uphill task. Earlier this month, the
UN Food and Agriculture Organization reported that more than 500,000 tonnes of
old pesticides lie forgotten in waste dumps around the world.