A/HRC/36/41 hazards and risks of their chemical products and to prevent impacts, including through the development of safer alternatives. Food and agriculture 91. In addition to the pesticide manufacturers discussed above, downstream businesses are implicated in the value chain of food and agricultural production in which such hazardous substances are used. For example, according to UNICEF, “exposure to toxic chemicals is likely to be the single greatest health risk to pregnant and nursing workers in the palm oil sector”. 68 Approximately 50 per cent of all consumer products around the world use palm oil, implicating large numbers of consumer product companies. 69 Air pollution resulting in haze is also of grave concern to children, women and older persons. Illnesses related to haze resulting from the clearing of forests and peat lands for palm plantations not only affect workers and communities near plantations, but can have transboundary impacts. Although the burning of forests and the use of certain pesticides are illegal, compliance and enforcement is poor and such practices continue. Other food and agriculture sectors that face challenges in preventing human rights abuses include coffee, cocoa, cotton and tobacco production. Manufacturing sector and consumer products 92. Hazardous substances continue to be used in the manufacturing sector and as components of a variety of consumer products, implicating the rights of workers, local communities and consumers, as well as the rights of those who may be exposed to postconsumer waste. 93. Concerns about human rights abuses linked to toxic chemicals have been raised in the context of the electronics sector and the textile, leather and other garment industries. Researchers have also identified a myriad of adverse health impacts linked to toxic chemicals in cosmetics, personal care products, cleaning products, detergents and other household consumer products. Retail sector 94. Retailers are able to demand compliance with human rights from their suppliers upstream to ensure that no community, consumer or worker suffers abuses due to hazardous substances linked to products they sell. Indeed, in response to consumer demands for products free of toxic chemicals and for ethical conduct by businesses, certain retailers are exceeding the standards provided by national and international laws. For example, retailers have prohibited the inclusion of certain chemicals of concern in their products. Financial sector 95. The financial sector, including both investors and insurers, has the power to incentivize the companies to better respect human rights through a transition away from toxic practices. However, investments and insurance policies can also facilitate human rights abuses. For example, demand for investments in gold are believed to have contributed to an increased use of mercury for artisanal and small-scale gold mining, calculated to be the largest source of mercury emissions into the global environment70 and the cause of birth defects and other health impacts among children in mining communities. Responsible investment initiatives should link human rights criteria with criteria on toxic chemicals, pollution and other such metrics. 68 69 70 18 UNICEF, “Palm oil and children in Indonesia” (2016), p. 7. Available at www.unicef.org/indonesia/Palm_Oil_and_Children_in_Indonesia.pdf. See www.unicef.org/csr/palm-oil.html. UNEP, Global Mercury Assessment 2013: Sources, Emissions, Releases and Environmental Transport.