In July 1995 the Ministry for the Environment initiated a major nation-wide study, the Organochlorines Programme, to identify and manage the issues associated with organochlorine contaminants in the New Zealand environment.

The contaminants that are the focus of this Programme are:

• the polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and the polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs). These substances are often generically referred to as ‘dioxins’;
• the polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs);
• organochlorine pesticides including DDT, aldrin, dieldrin, chlordane, hexachlorobenzene and pentachlorophenol (PCP).

Dioxins are produced as unwanted by-products from a number of combustion and industrial processes. It is probable that small amounts of dioxins continue to be released to the New Zealand environment from these and other activities.

PCBs have been removed from service in the electricity sector and most stocks have now been destroyed off-shore. PCP and the target OC pesticides were previously used in industry and/or agriculture. They are no longer used in New Zealand. Obsolete stocks not held in secure storage continue to pose a hazard through the possibility of misuse or accidental release.

The Organochlorines Programme will examine the significance of organochlorine contaminants in the New Zealand environment, develop national environmental standards and guidelines for the protection of human health and the environment, and identify technologies to clean-up organochlorine contaminated industrial sites and destroy organochlorine wastes.

In brief, the Organochlorines Programme sets out to:

• collect country-wide data on background levels of the key organochlorines in the environment, determine human dietary exposure and body burdens, and from this information assess the significance of the levels found;
• identify hot spots and reservoirs, and estimate continuing emissions of dioxins and other key organochlorines to the environment;
• identify technologies that can safely and effectively destroy waste organochlorine chemicals and achieve the clean-up of organochlorine contaminated sites;
• develop national environmental standards and guidelines to support the clean-up of contaminated sites and the regulation of any ongoing emissions of dioxins to the environment;
• take stock of other organochlorine chemicals currently in use in New Zealand;
• keep people informed and involve interested parties in decision making;
• develop as far as practicable a management strategy for organochlorine wastes and emissions.

The objectives of the Organochlorines are:

(i) To develop Resource Management (RM) Act national environmental standards for dioxins in the media of air, soil and water; and where necessary, environmental guidelines or standards for selected organochlorine contaminants (e.g. PCP, chlordane, PCBs, dieldrin and DDT).

 

To help achieve this objective:

(a) information will be obtained on ambient levels of dioxins and other key organochlorine contaminants in New Zealand ecosystems and an assessment made of their likely significance in terms of environmental impacts; and,

(b) information will be obtained, where practicable, on the level of dioxins and other key organochlorine contaminants in the New Zealand human population and in food products, and an assessment made of their likely significance in terms of human health.

 

(ii) To facilitate the commercial application in New Zealand of technologies that safely and effectively destroy organochlorine wastes.

To help achieve this objective:

(a) selected technologies will, if required, be trialed and evaluated in conjunction with interested parties;

(b) RM Act consent requirements will be identified.

(iii) To identify and develop as far as practicable, the elements of an integrated management strategy for dioxins and organochlorine wastes in New Zealand.

To help achieve this objective:

(a) potential sources and continuing emissions of dioxins and other key organochlorines will be identified and prioritised;

(b) the extent of chemical holdings of organochorines will be estimated.

(iv) To facilitate informed public input to Government decisions on the management of organochlorines in the New Zealand environment.

To help achieve this objective the Ministry for the Environment will:

(a) be guided by the Organochlorines Consultative Group;

(b) disseminate key information, facilitate an understanding of the issues among interested parties, and consult effectively during the process of policy development.

 

There are five areas of investigation and research currently being undertaken to support the development of a management strategy and national environmental standards and guidelines.

These are:

• survey of background levels of the key organochlorines in the New Zealand environment. This has involved the collection and analysis of samples of ambient air, soil, river water, river biota, estuarine sediment and estuarine shellfish;
• survey of levels of dioxins and PCBs in meats, dairy products and other foods in the New Zealand market place, and an estimation of the dietary intake of these substances for the New Zealand population;
• survey the body burden of New Zealander’s for dioxins, PCBs and persistent organochlorine pesticides. This involves the collection of serum from a broad spectrum of the population;
• estimate ongoing emissions of dioxins and PCBs to air and water;
• facilitate the development of technologies to safely destroy wastes and clean-up sites contaminated with organochlorine substances.

The integration of these elements within the Organochlorines Programme is illustrated below.

The development of national environmental standards and guidelines will require a high level of public consultation to meet regulatory requirements. The fourth objective of the Organochlorines Programme aims to communicate effectively with the public in support of the process of policy development.

Organochlorines Programme publications, published or planned, include bulletins, scientific reports and an Organochlorines Programme brochure.

Organochlorines Programme Bulletins provide a regular update of the work being undertaken. The bulletins are distributed to stakeholders and the interested public as requested.

As at October 1997, five bulletins have been published. Copies of these are available on request.

Reports will be issued once each phase of the scientific investigation and research is completed. These scientific reports will be taken into account in the development of national environmental standards and guidelines.

The first reports will be on the environmental investigations that have been undertaken. These reports are due for release in June 1998. Copies of these and all other documents will be available upon request to the Ministry for the Environment.

A brochure ‘Investigating Persistent Organochlorines in New Zealand’ has recently been published. The brochure provides an overview for the general public of the Organochlorines Programme, and summarises the work that is currently underway in New Zealand (available in request).

Further details on any aspect of the Organochlorines Programme can be obtained from the Ministry for the Environment. Contact:

Howard Ellis or Dr Simon Buckland
Ministry for the Environment
PO Box 10 362
Wellington
NEW ZEALAND

Facsimile: +64 4 917 7523
E-mail: he@mfe.govt.nz (Howard Ellis)
sjb@mfe.govt.nz (Simon Buckland)
Home page: http://www.mfe.govt.nz