Ban on Seven Chemicals that are hazardous to health & environment

IN NEWS

• The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today banned seven Persistent Organic Pollutants (POP’s) listed under Stockholm Convention.

ABOUT

• The Stockholm Convention is a global treaty to protect human health and environment from POPs, which are identified chemical substances that persist in the environment, bio-accumulate in living organisms, adversely affect human health/ environment and have the property of long-range environmental transport (LRET).
• India had ratified the Stockholm Convention on January 13, 2006 as per Article 25(4), which enabled it to keep itself in a default "opt-out" position such that amendments in various Annexes of the convention cannot be enforced on it unless an instrument of ratification/ acceptance/ approval or accession is explicitly deposited with UN depositary.
• Exposure to POPs can lead to cancer, damage to central & peripheral nervous systems, diseases of immune system, reproductive disorders and interference with normal infant and child development.
• POPs are listed in various Annexes to the Stockholm Convention after thorough scientific research, deliberations and negotiations among member countries.

WHO BANNED AND WHAT BANNED

• Considering its commitment towards providing safe environment and addressing human health risks, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) had notified the 'Regulation of Persistent Organic Pollutants Rules, on March 5, 2018 under the provisions of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
• The regulation inter alia prohibited the manufacture, trade, use, import and export seven chemicals namely –
• Chlordecone,
• Hexabromobiphenyl,
• Hexabromodiphenyl ether and Heptabromodiphenylether (Commercial octa-BDE),
• Tetrabromodiphenyl ether and Pentabromodiphenyl ether (Commercial penta-BDE),
• Pentachlorobenzene,
• Hexabromocyclododecane, and
• Hexachlorobutadiene.

CONCLUSION

• The Cabinet's approval for ratification of POPs demonstrates India's commitment to meet its international obligations with regard to protection of environment and human health.
• It also indicates the resolve of the Government to take action on POPs by implementing control measures, develop and implement action plans for unintentionally produced chemicals, develop inventories of the chemicals' stockpiles and review as well as update its National Implementation Plan (NIP).
• The ratification process would enable India to access Global Environment Facility (GEF) financial resources in updating the NIP.

Russia Reports Successful Test Launch of Hypersonic Missile

IN NEWS

• The Russian military reported a successful test launch of the new Zircon hypersonic cruise missile.

ABOUT

• The 3M22 Zircon also spelled as 3M22 Tsirkon is a scramjet powered maneuvering anti-ship hypersonic cruise missile currently in tested by Russia.
• The missile represents a further development of the HELA (Hypersonic Experimental Flying Vehicle) developed by NPO Mashinostroyeniya that was on display at the 1995 MAKS air show.
• Zircon is believed to be a maneuvering, winged hypersonic cruise missile with a lift-generating center body. A booster stage with solid-fuel engines accelerates it to supersonic speeds, after which a scramjet motor with liquid-fuel in the second stage accelerates it to hypersonic speeds.
• The missile's range is estimated to be 135 to 270 nautical miles ( 250 to 500 km) at low level, and up to 400 nmi (740 km) in a semi-ballistic trajectory; average range is around 400–450 km .
• Zircon can travel at a speed of Mach 8–Mach 9 (6,090–6,851 mph; 9,800–11,025 km/h; 2,722.3–3,062.6 m/s).
• This has led to concerns that it could penetrate existing naval defense systems.Zircon exchanges information in flight and can be controlled by commands if necessary.

INDIA IN HYPERSONIC SYSTEM

• India is pushing ahead with the development of ground and flight test hardware as part of an ambitious plan for a hypersonic cruise missile
• Recently, India successfully test-fired an advanced version of nuclear capable hypersonic missile SHAURYA from a defense facility offs the Odisha coast.
• Developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) under the project code-named B- 05, the newer version of the missile has a strike range of 750 km to 1800 km depending on the payload.
• The HSTDV is an unmanned scramjet demonstration aircraft for hypersonic speed flight. It is being developed as a carrier vehicle for hypersonic and long-range cruise missiles, and will have multiple civilian applications including the launching of small satellites at low cost. The HSTDV program is being ran by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2020

Why in NEWS ?

• Emmanuelle Charpentier of France and Jennifer Doudna of the US on September 07,2020 won the Nobel Chemistry Prize for the gene-editing technique known as the CRISPR-Cas9 DNA snipping "scissors", the first time a Nobel science prize has gone to a women-only team.

About

• Using the tool, researchers can change the DNA of animals, plants and microorganisms with extremely high precision.
• This technology has had a revolutionary impact on the life sciences, is contributing to new cancer therapies and may make the dream of curing inherited diseases come true.
• Charpentier, 51, and Doudna, 56, are just the sixth and seventh women to receive the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

Evolution of Gene-editing Technique

• While researching a common harmful bacteria, Charpentier discovered a previously unknown molecule—part of the bacteria's ancient immune system that disarms viruses by snipping off parts of their DNA.
• After publishing her research in 2011, Charpentier worked with Doudna to recreate the bacteria's genetic scissors, simplifying the tool so it was easier to use and apply to other genetic material.
• They then reprogrammed the scissors to cut any DNA molecule at a predetermined site—paving the way for scientists to rewrite the code of life where the DNA is snipped.
• The CRISPR/Cas9 tool has already contributed to significant gains in crop resilience, altering their genetic code to better withstand drought and pests, and led to innovative cancer treatments.
• There is enormous power in this genetic tool, which has not only revolutionised basic science, but also resulted in innovative crops and will lead to ground-breaking new medical treatments.

Stockholm Convention

Why in NEWS ?

• The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister, has approved the Ratification of seven (7) chemicals listed under Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs).

About

• The Cabinet further delegated its powers to ratify chemicals under the Stockholm Convention to Union Ministers of External Affairs (MEA) and Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MEFCC) in respect of POPs already regulated under the domestic regulations thereby streamlining the procedure.

Stockholm Convention

• The Stockholm Convention is a global treaty to protect human health and environment from POPs, which are identified chemical substances that persist in the environment, bio-accumulate in living organisms, adversely affect human health/ environment and have the property of long-range environmental transport (LRET).
• Exposure to POPs can lead to cancer, damage to central & peripheral nervous systems, diseases of immune system, reproductive disorders and interference with normal infant and child development.
• POPs are listed in various Annexes to the Stockholm Convention after thorough scientific research, deliberations and negotiations among member countries.

India’s Position

• India had ratified the Stockholm Convention on January 13, 2006 as per Article 25(4), which enabled it to keep itself in a default "opt-out" position such that amendments in various Annexes of the convention cannot be enforced on it unless an instrument of ratification/ acceptance/ approval or accession is explicitly deposited with UN depositary.
• Considering its commitment towards providing safe environment and addressing human health risks, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) had notified the 'Regulation of Persistent Organic Pollutants Rules, on March 5, 2018 under the provisions of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
• The regulation inter alia prohibited the manufacture, trade, use, import and export seven chemicals namely (i) Chlordecone, (ii) Hexabromobiphenyl, (iii) Hexabromodiphenyl ether and Heptabromodiphenylether (Commercial octa-BDE), (iv) Tetrabromodiphenyl ether and Pentabromodiphenyl ether (Commercial penta- BDE), (v) Pentachlorobenzene, (vi) Hexabromocyclododecane, and (vii) Hexachlorobutadiene, which were already listed as POPs under Stockholm Convention.
• The Cabinet's approval for ratification of POPs demonstrates India's commitment to meet its international obligations with regard to protection of environment and human health.
• It also indicates the resolve of the Government to take action on POPs by implementing control measures, develop and implement action plans for unintentionally produced chemicals, develop inventories of the chemicals' stockpiles and review as well as update its National Implementation Plan (NIP).
• The ratification process would enable India to access Global Environment Facility (GEF) financial resources in updating the NIP.