Mid-term progress report on Risk Assessment and Monitoring of Environmental Chemicals Dennis R. Sanchez Philippines

Objectives of presentation Discuss course content Discuss lessons learned Evaluation of the course Recommendations

Technical Lectures From Academe From Government Agencies From Industry Laboratory Practice/Lectures From Government Agencies From Industry Law-Policy Country Report-Participant Participation Project Cycle Management Course’s Distribution of Lessons

Distribution of Lessons in terms of number of days (March to May, 2007)

Lessons learned from Lectures Risk assessment of environmental chemicals Essentially scientific investigation of possible harm to human and environment. These are the evaluation of anthropogenic chemicals like Pollutants and Pesticides/agrochemicals. Pollutants are harmful by-products of development, primarily from rampant industrialization, while, Pesticide/agrochemicals were formulated chemical agent to optimize food production from restrictive natural processes. Generally, both type of chemicals are product of human activities for greater good, but unfortunately, both carry risks.

Risk Assessment of Environmental Chemicals can classified into two general types Pollutants Unintentionally released to the environment. By-product of rampant industrialization Usually, risks is related to human health Example Organic-Hg released to the sea leading to Minamata disease Pesticides Intentionally released to environment to increase food production from restrictive natural processes Usually risk is related to environmental risk Example DDT Today’s stringent pesticide regulations is to prevent pesticides to become a pollutant

Lesson learned about Risk Management Risk management Use of scientific data in formulating and implementing policies in lowering and monitoring the probabilities of risks. Since most of data are from animal experiments, a significant number of risks remain unknown. Risk management tool Intensive research, and, Comprehensive monitoring A classic example in failure of risk management is the DDT story. Although this pesticide remains an effective pest control agent and harmless to humans, its detrimental effect to birds discovered decades later became a rallying point of environmental activism. This led to the very stringent regulation of pesticides costing million of dollars and decade of experiments before they could be marketed.

Lessons learned from Lectures… In most cases, public opinion in assessing risk from anthropogenic chemicals, is not supported by facts, and at times, outright wrong. Example agricultural pesticides it was evaluated that natural pesticides are by far more toxic than their man-made counterparts. Yet most of the opinion surveys say otherwise. Unfortunately, less funds were directed to assess the risks from natural toxins It is an unfair accusation that anthropogenic chemicals are the only source of toxins in our environment

Lesson learned from Laboratory Lesson learned from laboratory visits is the implementation of Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development’s (OECD) Principles and Testing of Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) in both private and government laboratories. OECD is an inter-government organization of 29 industrialized countries. This remains the guiding standards in testing and production of new chemicals. Selected laboratories from these countries were given a GLP-certification warranting mutual acceptance of data (MAD) between member states.

Lesson learned from Industry An interesting lesson came from companies that make scientific-instruments, as exemplified by Horiba and Shimadzu. Horiba develops on-line instruments, while, Shimadzu develops laboratory instruments. On-line instruments measure environmental chemicals on- site, at real time, and with minimum human intervention. While, laboratory instruments, although may take longer to analyze and require chemists, produce more accurate and reproducible data. Both companies cater to chemical analysis, but they cater to different markets. These plant visits and lectures open our minds to the definition of “marketing-niche”. Having a specific niche in the market can ensure survival in the global competition.

Evaluation of the course The content of the course is evenly distributed: Point of views from the Academe, Government, and Industry were given equal opportunity to present their case, however, Limited demonstration of how effective are the Laws-Policies prevented the risks of environmental chemicals

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