Highly persistent toxic waste threatens ‘many, if not all, human rights’

Bethanie Carney Almroth – an environmental scientist and researcher in the field who took office in August – expressed particular concern over what she called “forever chemicals” (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS) found in everyday consumer products.

Once released, these synthetic chemicals can remain in the environment for centuries, and there is currently no way to remove them from contaminated ecosystems, according to a study. latest UN report.

Exposure occurs throughout the chemical’s life cycle – from production sites to contaminated water, food, and consumer products – increasing risks to the hormone system, liver function, and immune function.

PFAS can even cross the placenta and be detected in umbilical cord blood and breast milkexposing people to sensitive developmental stages, the report stressed.

Ms Carney Almroth noted that PFAS harm the rights to life, health, a healthy environment, a safe and healthy work environment as well as access to information, “justice and remedy”.

Global justice issues

The consequences of toxic pollution are not distributed equally, making it “a global environmental justice issue,” he stressed.

PFAS are mostly produced in industrialized countries and spread globally through emissions, trade, and cross-border movement of PFAS-contaminated waste.

But communities that already face poverty, discrimination and marginalization – especially workers, women, children, Indigenous Peoples, and people of African descent – ​​“hit first and worst”, Ms Carney Almroth underlined.

“A human rights-based approach requires us to ask not just how much pollution there is, but who is affected by it, and who benefits? Who bears the impact, and who makes the rules?” he explained while laying out his vision for his new mandate.

Act now

As a former professor of ecotoxicology – how all living organisms are impacted by toxic pollutants – Ms Carney Almroth emphasized that she wants her new position to be dedicated to “[moving] upstream.”

This means not only addressing how to clean up toxic pollution once it occurs, but also preventing unnecessary or dangerous contamination.

He recalled the conclusions of a UN report calling for an urgent ban on all non-essential use of PFAS, saying that when pollution is potentially irreversible, waiting for full certainty regarding its longevity and the dangers it poses could result in lasting harm.

Ms Carney Almroth also wants to ensure countries, courts and other partners have access to reliable information on toxic pollution to enable more effective policymaking, highlighting the need for “protect independent science from conflicts of interest, disinformation, and manufactured doubts.”

He also wants to make sure everyone’s voice is heard.

“Science can help us identify dangers. Human rights tell us why the harm matters, whose rights should be protected, and where the responsibility lies. The knowledge and experience of affected communities helps us understand what meaningful solutions require,” he said.

Special Rapporteurs and other independent experts appointed by Human Rights Council are not UN staff and they receive no salary for their work.