2. Science: the key to sound public policy decision-making

WCC is strongly committed to addressing public health and environmental challenges related to chlorine-containing compounds. Science plays an important role in the industry’s efforts to respond to society’s and regulators’ concerns. The main goal of WCC’s science program is to promote science-based decision-making. WCC collaborates closely with both industry experts and independent researchers to provide scientific information on chlorine-related health and environmental issues. WCC regional organizations also sponsor a wide range of scientific studies to inform decision makers about the properties of key chlorinated compounds.

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Information for policy makers and the scientific community High Production Volume (HPV) chemicals

The global chemical industry made public commitments to voluntarily compile and report basic screening information for high production volume (HPV) chemicals. As part of this commitment, WCC agreed to coordinate efforts to address 46 chlorinated chemicals, and identified company and/or consortia sponsors to conduct the screening tests. WCC has completed work on 87% of these chemicals. For the remaining chemicals, sponsors continue to work with lead countries to develop the required data packages and make this information publicly available. WCC will continue to coordinate closely with ICCA on any follow-up HPV activities. A database on the WCC web site tracks the status of all 126 chemicals and provides links to the data packages generated under the hPv initiative: www.worldchlorine.org/wcchpv_cms/display_table.php3.

The hPv Initiative:

• Provides globally harmonized, internationally-agreed data sets and initial hazard assessments under the refocused HPV Chemicals Programme of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
• Eliminates duplication of efforts.
• Offers a sound scientific basis for any global, regional and/or national risk assessment, subsequent voluntary industry action or regulation.
• Reduces the number of animals used for testing.

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Providing data to support chemical management programs

WCC continues to actively provide input to support implementation of international chemical management programs. for example, WCC participates in assessing of whether certain chlorinated compounds are likely to travel long distances in the environment and cause adverse effects. This information provides the scientific basis for regulatory authorities to determine if these substances should be banned or restricted under the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) protocol and the Stockholm POPs Convention.

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Assessing impacts of drinking water chlorination

Broadly acknowledged as one of the great public health advances in history, drinking water chlorination nonetheless raises some concerns related to disinfection by-products (DBPs), chemical compounds formed unintentionally when chlorine and other disinfectants react with natural organic matter in water. The chlorine industry has contributed to

the wealth of scientific knowledge about chlorinated DBPs. for example, the Chlorine Chemistry Division of the American Chemistry Council sponsored a series of reproductive and developmental toxicology studies that were used by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to help set health protective standards for DBP levels in drinking water. Euro Chlor also performed an extensive environmental risk assessment on DBPs, which concluded that DBPs arising from use of active chlorine for microbial control and cleaning are not likely to produce adverse environmental effects. The industry’s work provides further support for the WhO conclusion that, “the health risks from these byproducts at the levels at which they occur in drinking water are extremely small in comparison with the risks associated with inadequate disinfection.

Thus, it is important that disinfection not be compromised in attempting to control such byproducts.” [WhO 2000, Environmental Health Criteria 216, Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts].

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Understanding natural organochlorines

More than 2,400 organochlorines are produced by living organisms (for example, termites may account for 15% of global chloroform emissions) or made during natural processes such as volcanoes, forest fires, and geothermal processes (volcanoes emit three million metric tonnes of hydrogen chloride per year). The industry has sponsored significant

research on the challenges of risk assessments for man-made and naturally occurring organic substances—particularly where these occur side-by-side in the environment.

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Science Ambassadors

WCC’s Science Ambassador Program promotes science-based assessment of human health and environmental risks in regions outside the E.U., U.S. and Japan. WCC has held two Congresses on Science, in Sao Paulo, Brazil (2003) and Buenos Aires, Argentina (2004).

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National and regional initiatives

Chemical Reviews

The Canadian Chlorine Chemistry Council (C4) has been actively engaged in Canada’s Existing Substances Review process, a pioneering national initiative to improve knowledge about chemicals, including chlorinated products. Mandated by the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, this involves categorization and screening of some 23,000 chemical compounds on the national inventory or Domestic Substances list. Dialogue between industry and government departments has been strong and constructive, with C4 providing valued input to Environment Canada. All chlorinated substances of interest to C4’s members that have been identified for further risk assessment (screening) are part of current regulatory management programs or voluntary data development initiatives such as the hPv program; information from these initiatives will be used in their assessment in Canada.

In late 2006 the European Union adopted a new, comprehensive chemicals policy know as REACh or the Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals, As part of industry’s contribution to the implementation of this new chemicals policy, Euro Chlor is managing consortia for 10 chemicals. The consortia will develop scientific data needed to complete the REACh process. Euro Chlor also has an active program aimed at providing accurate information on science issues. Euro Chlor publications are listed in the science section of Chlorine Online at www.eurochlor.org/science. Publications include:

• Science Dossiers on biodegradability of chlorinated solvents; chloroform in the environment; dioxins and furans in the environment; the proceedings of a Euro Chlor workshop
• on soil chlorine chemistry; hexachlorobenzene—sources, environmental fate and risk characterization; hexachlorobutadiene; how chlorine in molecules affects biological activity;
• natural organohalogens; and trichloroacetic acid in the environment.
• key Science Information Sheets on bioaccumulation; children’s exposure issues; dioxins;
• marine risk assessments; naturally-occurring organochlorines; water chlorination; and
• abbreviations used in ecotoxicology.

Chlorine science for educators

The Chlorine Chemistry Division of ACC helps bring objective and balanced discussion of environmental and scientific issues related to chlorine chemistry to classrooms through its web site, The Science Center (www.science-education.org/). This site features lesson plans and classroom activities, provides educators with a forum where they can share information and discuss the latest issues, and provides users with a gateway to other educational resources on the internet.

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