Clipping Board » Environmental Pollution & Change ─ How dirty the human heart is, how dirty the environment will be...
【United Evening News】Reporter Liu Kaiyuan / Taipei Report
October 31, 2011
Following the Environmental Protection Administration's (EPA) elevation of phthalate plasticizers to a higher toxicity control level, multiple scholars today urged the EPA to also raise the control level for polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). This environmental hormone has been widely used in electronic appliances, plastic products, fireproof building materials, and textiles. High concentrations of this toxic substance have even been detected in the sediment of major rivers and fish in Taiwan, potentially interfering with thyroid function, negatively impacting the intelligence of newborn mammals, and posing carcinogenic risks.
The EPA held a "Seminar on the Control of Environmental Hormones" this morning, during which professors including Tian Qianrong from National Kaohsiung Normal University, Li Junzhang, Xie Jiayi, and Chen Chongyu from National Cheng Kung University, and Sun Yimin from Chung Hua University all made this appeal.
Tian Qianrong noted that a distribution survey of 30 rivers in Taiwan revealed that the total PBDE levels in sediment were highest in the Tamsui River system, Erren River, and Lao Jie River. The maximum level detected in the sediment of Erren River once exceeded 800 μg/kg (10^-6).
The same survey also showed that the highest concentration of the plasticizer DEHP in sediment was found in the Jiangjun River, while the highest level in fish was detected in the Hualien River. For nonylphenol, the highest sediment concentration was in the Love River, and the highest in fish was in the Dajia River. Bisphenol A concentrations in sediment were highest in the Erren River and Love River, while the highest in fish was in the Erren River. The highest polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) levels in sediment were found in the Donggang River, and in fish, the highest was in the Wu River.
Scholars found that PBDEs, commonly used as flame retardants—particularly decabromodiphenyl ether (decaBDE), which is often used in fire-resistant materials—were detected at high levels in rivers and fish. They recommended elevating the control level and urged the EPA to collaborate with other agencies to expedite regulation of related products.
Chen Meilian, a professor at Yang Ming University, stated that PBDEs have been extensively used in recent years as flame retardants in electronic appliances, plastic products, fireproof building materials, and textiles. However, they interfere with thyroid function, negatively affect the intelligence, mental health, and motor functions of newborn mammals, and some PBDE congeners have been found to be carcinogenic.
Lin Jianhui, Director of the EPA's Toxic Chemicals Management Division, noted that PBDEs are currently classified as Category 4 toxic chemicals in Taiwan. However, whether to raise their control level requires further study.
Source: http://udn. com/ NEWS/ NATIONAL/ NAT5/ 6686970. shtml
Taiwan Rivers Conceal Toxins, Risking Cancer and Cognitive Harm
October 31, 2011
Following the Environmental Protection Administration's (EPA) elevation of phthalate plasticizers to a higher toxicity control level, multiple scholars today urged the EPA to also raise the control level for polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). This environmental hormone has been widely used in electronic appliances, plastic products, fireproof building materials, and textiles. High concentrations of this toxic substance have even been detected in the sediment of major rivers and fish in Taiwan, potentially interfering with thyroid function, negatively impacting the intelligence of newborn mammals, and posing carcinogenic risks.
The EPA held a "Seminar on the Control of Environmental Hormones" this morning, during which professors including Tian Qianrong from National Kaohsiung Normal University, Li Junzhang, Xie Jiayi, and Chen Chongyu from National Cheng Kung University, and Sun Yimin from Chung Hua University all made this appeal.
Tian Qianrong noted that a distribution survey of 30 rivers in Taiwan revealed that the total PBDE levels in sediment were highest in the Tamsui River system, Erren River, and Lao Jie River. The maximum level detected in the sediment of Erren River once exceeded 800 μg/kg (10^-6).
The same survey also showed that the highest concentration of the plasticizer DEHP in sediment was found in the Jiangjun River, while the highest level in fish was detected in the Hualien River. For nonylphenol, the highest sediment concentration was in the Love River, and the highest in fish was in the Dajia River. Bisphenol A concentrations in sediment were highest in the Erren River and Love River, while the highest in fish was in the Erren River. The highest polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) levels in sediment were found in the Donggang River, and in fish, the highest was in the Wu River.
Scholars found that PBDEs, commonly used as flame retardants—particularly decabromodiphenyl ether (decaBDE), which is often used in fire-resistant materials—were detected at high levels in rivers and fish. They recommended elevating the control level and urged the EPA to collaborate with other agencies to expedite regulation of related products.
Chen Meilian, a professor at Yang Ming University, stated that PBDEs have been extensively used in recent years as flame retardants in electronic appliances, plastic products, fireproof building materials, and textiles. However, they interfere with thyroid function, negatively affect the intelligence, mental health, and motor functions of newborn mammals, and some PBDE congeners have been found to be carcinogenic.
Lin Jianhui, Director of the EPA's Toxic Chemicals Management Division, noted that PBDEs are currently classified as Category 4 toxic chemicals in Taiwan. However, whether to raise their control level requires further study.
Source: http://udn. com/ NEWS/ NATIONAL/ NAT5/ 6686970. shtml