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UN Special Rapporteur on the implications for human rights of the environmentally sound management and disposal of hazardous substances and wastes, Bethanie Carney Almroth on Wednesday called for targeted efforts to prevent the spread of toxic pollution, moving away from current frameworks which only address its management after harm has already occurred.
At a recent dialogue with the UN Human Rights Council, Almroth presented findings drawn from a previousUN report. She highlighted that ecosystems are heavily polluted with polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), known as forever chemicals, which undermines the effective enjoyment of fundamental human rights, including the right to a healthy environment, which is codified under United Nations General Assembly Resolution 76/300 and UN Human Rights Council Resolution 48/13. PFAS are a man-made family of chemicals known for their strength, resistance to stain and water, and grease protection. They are widely used in waterproof cosmetics, non-stick cookware and various other products.
Almroth explained that the primary danger of PFAS is that once released, some of these substances do not degrade in the environment and have the potential to remain in ecosystems for centuries, while current technologies are insufficient to eliminate PFAS from contaminated areas. As a result, this leads to disproportionate and long-lasting impacts on people living near industrial production and waste sites.
Almroth further underlined that PFAS also posed a threat to global environmental justice, explaining that although they are produced in industrialised countries, these chemicals spread worldwide through emissions, transboundary waste movements, and international trade which ultimately reaches local communities in developing countries.
Consequently, Almroth emphasised the urgent need to address and control PFAS pollution and called for an immediate ban of these substances on all non-essential uses. Additionally, she asserted that her mandate as a Special Rapporteur on toxics and human rights will focus on promoting preventive action over the management of toxic pollution and its harms. She also reaffirmed her commitment in prioritizing the strengthening of the interface between science and human rights, calling for the protection of independent scientific research from conflicts of interest, misinformation, and manufactured doubt.
She has previously expressed concerns about the accumulation of PFAS in soils and water, which has been associated with various health risks in addition to biodiversity loss. In 2024, the US Environmental Protection Agency adopted a new set of drinking water standards in order to reduce the amount of PFAS legally allowed in water. In May 2026, the European Union (EU) enacted a new law updating the list of surface and groundwater pollutants to include certain pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and PFAS, aiming to reduce water pollution and improve water resilience.
Highlighting the severity of the global water crisis, the UN announced in January 2026 that the world is currently experiencing a state of “water bankruptcy” characterised by withdrawal and pollution of water beyond safe depletion limits as well as the destruction of key parts of water-related natural capital.
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At a recent dialogue with the UN Human Rights Council, Almroth presented findings drawn from a previousUN report. She highlighted that ecosystems are heavily polluted with polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), known as forever chemicals, which undermines the effective enjoyment of fundamental human rights, including the right to a healthy environment, which is codified under United Nations General Assembly Resolution 76/300 and UN Human Rights Council Resolution 48/13. PFAS are a man-made family of chemicals known for their strength, resistance to stain and water, and grease protection. They are widely used in waterproof cosmetics, non-stick cookware and various other products.
Almroth explained that the primary danger of PFAS is that once released, some of these substances do not degrade in the environment and have the potential to remain in ecosystems for centuries, while current technologies are insufficient to eliminate PFAS from contaminated areas. As a result, this leads to disproportionate and long-lasting impacts on people living near industrial production and waste sites.
Almroth further underlined that PFAS also posed a threat to global environmental justice, explaining that although they are produced in industrialised countries, these chemicals spread worldwide through emissions, transboundary waste movements, and international trade which ultimately reaches local communities in developing countries.
Consequently, Almroth emphasised the urgent need to address and control PFAS pollution and called for an immediate ban of these substances on all non-essential uses. Additionally, she asserted that her mandate as a Special Rapporteur on toxics and human rights will focus on promoting preventive action over the management of toxic pollution and its harms. She also reaffirmed her commitment in prioritizing the strengthening of the interface between science and human rights, calling for the protection of independent scientific research from conflicts of interest, misinformation, and manufactured doubt.
She has previously expressed concerns about the accumulation of PFAS in soils and water, which has been associated with various health risks in addition to biodiversity loss. In 2024, the US Environmental Protection Agency adopted a new set of drinking water standards in order to reduce the amount of PFAS legally allowed in water. In May 2026, the European Union (EU) enacted a new law updating the list of surface and groundwater pollutants to include certain pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and PFAS, aiming to reduce water pollution and improve water resilience.
Highlighting the severity of the global water crisis, the UN announced in January 2026 that the world is currently experiencing a state of “water bankruptcy” characterised by withdrawal and pollution of water beyond safe depletion limits as well as the destruction of key parts of water-related natural capital.
The post UN expert calls for the adoption of preventive measures to tackle environmental toxic pollution appeared first on JURIST - News.
Continue reading...
Note: We don't have any responsibilities about this news. Its been posted here by Feed Reader and we had no controls and checking on it. And because News posted here will be deleted automatically after 21 days, threads are closed so that no one spend time to post and discuss here. You can always check the source and discuss in their site.