UN highlights chemical pollutants

Outlook II report: Solutions exist but production and hazards still growing

Minimizing the impacts of chemicals and waste will not be achieved by 2020 unless urgent actions are taken to contain chemical pollution, according to a United Nations report released this week.

The report, Global Chemicals Outlook II, published by the UN Environment Programme in Nairobi, Kenya, on Monday, said that the current chemical production capacity of 2.3 billion metric tons, valued at $5 trillion annually, is projected to double by 2030.