Therese Karlsson, PhD's Avatar

Therese Karlsson, PhD

@theresekarlsson

Science and Technical Advisor at IPEN working for a toxics-free future for all Β· Posts=my own views ofc Β· πŸ³οΈβ€πŸŒˆ Β· (she/her) https://scholar.google.se/citations?user=ALUSXjgAAAAJ&hl=sv

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13.02.2025
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Latest posts by Therese Karlsson, PhD @theresekarlsson

Plastic pellets are not harmless cargo. 🐣

Decades of research show they are persistent, widely dispersed, ingested by wildlife, and capable of carrying hazardous chemicals across oceans. 🌍🌊

In our new perspective, we call on the IMO to recognize the risks and strengthen global regulation. βš“

17.02.2026 10:46 πŸ‘ 7 πŸ” 5 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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The #ISPCWP1 adjourned without agreeing to any decisions.

The meeting will resume some time in the future to try again to operationalize the newest science-policy panel focused on #chemicals, #waste, and #pollution.

Read ➑️ enb.iisd.org/isp-cwp-p1-i...

#science #sustdev

06.02.2026 22:41 πŸ‘ 5 πŸ” 3 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 1
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Following the first round of voting by secret ballot, no candidate received a majority of votes to be the next Chair of the Plastic Pollution INC. Unless the two candidates with the most votes can reach agreement for one to step aside, the INC will proceed with a second round of voting. #plastics

07.02.2026 15:24 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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UN chemicals panel talks end with little progress as procedural skirmishes eclipse science - Geneva Solutions Procedural disputes and geopolitical rivalries overshadowed the launch of a body in Geneva meant to assess the science on chemical pollution. Delegates now brace for similar tensions at plastics talks...

β€˜UN chemicals panel talks end with little progress as procedural skirmishes eclipse science’
Read the article by Michelle Langrand in Geneva Solutions: genevasolutions.news/climate-envi...

07.02.2026 11:28 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
Despite Wide Agreement on the Need to Address the Plastics Crisis, Oil States Derail Efforts for a Global Plastics Treaty - IPEN International Pollutants Elimination Network Geneva-The Plastics Treaty INC-5.2 negotiations closed today without an agreement, despite the majority of nations calling for meaningful, global

"We cannot continue to favor oil industry profits over the health of our children and grandchildren,” said Pamela Miller, IPEN Co-chair.Β 

stoppoisonplastic.org/blog/despite...

15.08.2025 18:34 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Plastic Polymers Exempt from Global Waste Regulations Pose Threats to Health and the Environment - IPEN International Pollutants Elimination Network Report informs Plastics Treaty delegates of problems in plastic recycling and calls for upstream solutions to the plastics crisisΒ  A new report from

β€œGiven the limitations of applying a circular approach to plastic waste, there is a strong case for regulating plastic production under the Plastic Treaty” said Ieva Rucevska, principal expert at GRID-Arendal.

stoppoisonplastic.org/blog/plastic...

06.08.2025 13:38 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Effects of leachates from black recycled polyethylene plastics on mRNA expression of genes involved in adipogenesis and endocrine pathways in zebrafish embryos Black recycled polyethylene pellets were collected from India, Nigeria and Taiwan. These pellet samples were used to create water leachates (in zebraf…

πŸ“’ NEW PAPER on #Chemicals in #RecycledPlastics! πŸ“’

We collected recycled polyethylene (PE) pellets from small scale mechanical #recycling facilities, measured chemicals leaching out of the plastics into water and impacts in zebrafish.
#PlasticsTreaty #INC5-2

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

23.06.2025 13:48 πŸ‘ 5 πŸ” 3 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 1
Our article on Addressing-the-toxic-chemicals-problem-in-plastics-recycling has been nominated for Paper of the Year in #CPPlastics

Our article on Addressing-the-toxic-chemicals-problem-in-plastics-recycling has been nominated for Paper of the Year in #CPPlastics

It's just an honor to be nominated. I'd like to thank all the people who made this possible 😘
#PlasticsTreaty
#MythOfRecycling

Read the article here: www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

20.05.2025 16:22 πŸ‘ 11 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

"Nations Agree to Ban Toxic Plastic Chemicals but Take Unprecedented Action Putting Health and the Environment at Risk"

on the outcome of BRS COPs 2025

ipen.org/news/nations...

10.05.2025 07:37 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 5 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Plastics industry pushed β€˜advanced recycling’ despite knowing problems – report Producers promoted chemical recycling – processes used to break plastics into constituent molecules – but knew of limitations

The source materials for most plastics are fossil fuels. As fossil fuel firms lose their iron grip on energy markets, experts say, they're shifting to making plastic. Recycling is a narrative that allows them to present plastic as a clean product.

1/13

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

08.05.2025 18:41 πŸ‘ 102 πŸ” 55 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 5

⚠️ Check more than 70 POPs contaminated sites with us!

29.04.2025 06:50 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 3 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 1
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www.linkedin.com/posts/charle...

05.05.2025 22:29 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Read the official #BRSCOPs interventions compiled by IPEN from Dr. Samarys Seguinot Medina, Tadesse Amera, Gilbert Kuepouo, Dr. Leslie Adogame, Pamela Miller, Sonia Buftheim, Yuyun Ismawati, Gohar Khojayan, Piyush Mohapatra, Aileen Lucero, Ram Charitra Sah, and Mari Carcamo: ipen.org/site/interve...

02.05.2025 07:23 πŸ‘ 4 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Image showing a large international conference hall filled with delegates seated behind country nameplates, such as Austria, Azerbaijan, Brazil, and Bhutan. At the top, a banner in red with white text reads: β€œRead: Toxic Pesticide Chlorpyrifos and Large Chemical Group Set for Global Bans,” with the IPEN logo and tagline β€œfor a toxics-free future” on the left. The setting and message convey the context of a high-level global policy meeting addressing toxic chemical regulations.

Image showing a large international conference hall filled with delegates seated behind country nameplates, such as Austria, Azerbaijan, Brazil, and Bhutan. At the top, a banner in red with white text reads: β€œRead: Toxic Pesticide Chlorpyrifos and Large Chemical Group Set for Global Bans,” with the IPEN logo and tagline β€œfor a toxics-free future” on the left. The setting and message convey the context of a high-level global policy meeting addressing toxic chemical regulations.

The Stockholm COP added toxic pesticide chlorpyrifos and PFAS group LC-PFCAs to its global ban list. IPEN welcomed the move but warned that broad exemptions for chlorpyrifos leave children at risk. Science – not profit – must guide chemical safety.
Read more here: ipen.org/news/toxic-p...

04.05.2025 07:42 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 3 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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New research by Matsunaga et al. (2025) show long-range transport of several benzotriazole UV stabilizers in plastics, including to remote islands.

www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/emcr...

β€œthe findings highlight the need for international regulation of plastics and associated chemicals”.

03.05.2025 23:37 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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IPEN and @acat-akaction.bsky.social strongly oppose a proposal to reopen the 2023 decision to ban UV-328 – a toxic chemical already phased out in many regions – and warn that granting new exemptions would set a dangerous precedent.
Read our joint submission here: ipen.org/documents/re...

29.04.2025 15:17 πŸ‘ 5 πŸ” 5 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Day 4 at #BRSCOPs2025

"It's about the precedent." Delegates debated whether to allow a persistent organic pollutant elimination listing to be re-opened to accommodate the aircraft manufacturing industry.

It's the first time such a request has been made.

➑️ enb.iisd.org/basel-rotter...

#BRSCOPs

01.05.2025 19:51 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 1
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"Toxic Chemicals Damage Babies' Brains"

This morning, @toxicsfree.bsky.social holds a demonstration to promote public policies for public health for protection from POPs, as ministers arrive for the morning's high-level segment.

πŸ“Ί www.facebook.com/share/v/16V5...

01.05.2025 08:02 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 3 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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enb.iisd.org/basel-rotter...

30.04.2025 06:49 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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POP songs - YouTube

The perfect soundtrack for going into next weeks negotiations www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...

For quickviews, guides on POPs coming up for discussion at this years #BRSCOPs and other relevant resources see ipen.org/conferences/... #BRSCOPs2025

27.04.2025 18:00 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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The UV328 controversy

ipen.org/documents/re...

27.04.2025 13:45 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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See our QuickViews on the upcoming Conference of the Parties for the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions where discussions will include listings for new chemicals, traceability of POPs and environmentally sound management.

ipen.org/sites/defaul...

25.04.2025 05:37 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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#Live now!

On the road to #BRSCOPs2025, join the event shedding light on hidden #plastic waste exports -- Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) and textile waste -- and how these can be made compliant with the #BaselConvention.

▢️ tiny.cc/GEN9Apr25
πŸ“Ί www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfzQ...

@toxicsfree.bsky.social

09.04.2025 09:00 πŸ‘ 5 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
Meetings documents

POPRC also highlights that "Harmonising regulations & standards globally could reduce financial burdens and improve compliance"

The report UNEP/POPS/COP.12/INF/26 can be found among the meeting documents for the upcoming BRS COPs:

www.brsmeas.org/2025COPs/Mee...

11.03.2025 17:04 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

The POPs Review Committee notes that:

"Enhanced transparency & traceability, through better labelling and information systems, are widely considered necessary."

For a quick summary & our recommendations:
stoppoisonplastic.org/blog/portfol...

11.03.2025 17:04 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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We looked at the Chair's text for a future plastics treaty (the draft that emerged from INC-5.1) and here are our recommendations on how to ensure the protection of human health and the environment with specific comments on the draft articles.

ipen.org/sites/defaul...

10.03.2025 15:58 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Anger, despair, and defiance from a voice within the US federal research system People around the world are watching with disbelief as the new US government closes down its aid programme, withdraws from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Paris agreement on climate change...

"This is digital genocide: populations of vulnerable people are being deleted. Data on transgender men and women are being deleted. We are also losing data on maternal mortality. These populations will suffer now and for decades to come. "

www.bmj.com/content/388/...

04.03.2025 09:31 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

"Even before plastic products become waste, they can leach, off-gas, and emit potentially-toxic chemicals, exposing unsuspecting consumersβ€”including children, elders, pregnant women, people with disabilities." @treeonplastics.bsky.social

03.03.2025 16:37 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Experts call for ban on toxic chemicals in plastics Researchers are calling for a substantial reduction in the number of chemicals used in plastics manufacturing, and a complete ban of chemicals known to be detrimental to both human health and the envi...

"...calling for a substantial reduction in the number of chemicals used in plastics manufacturing, and a complete ban of chemicals known to be detrimental to both human health and the environment"
phys.org/news/2025-02... @treeonplastics.bsky.social @bcarneyalmroth.bsky.social @thoba.bsky.social

03.03.2025 16:37 πŸ‘ 7 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 1

"The X-Press Pearl disaster has had devastating impacts on our coastal areas, exacerbated by a lack of awareness about its effects on the food system and health," said Chalani Rubesinghe a co-author of the study from the Sri Lankan group Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ)

03.03.2025 16:13 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0