Working Group Industrial Chemicals and Contaminants

Status of Releases and Levels in Countries and

Needs for Further Information and Research

1. What is known with regard to sources and releases of POPs in countries?

2. What is known with regard to levels of various POPs in different media?

• Is it possible to identify trends with the estimation and monitoring systems/programmes, which could assist in evaluating successes of actions to reduce/eliminate releases?
• Which tools, such as inventories and networks, would be needed to make information more easily accessible and useable?

Q1:

Poland: Poland produced PCBs and organochlorine pesticides. 2,4-D is still produced. PCDDs/Fs were found in transformer oil. There is little data on POP levels in Poland. Two laboratories are able to analyse PCDDs/Fs in Poland but because of high prices their services are not utilized. There is no monitoring system of POPs running on a regular basis.

Macedonia: All data will be provided, according to the UNEP questionnaire in next 10 days and it will be sent to UNEP Chemicals.

Czech Republic: PCBs and HCB are not produced at the present time, their levels are monitored in ambient air, drinking water, soils, food. PCBs are still used in capacitors. With regard to PCDDs/Fs, the broad measurements of emission factors as a base for real emission inventory of POPs in CR, is realized during a period of 1995-1999. According to the Czech Air Act, the measurements of PCDD/F emissions from waste incinerators are realized yearly. The first emission inventory was carried out in 1993. PCB inventory was prepared in 1995.

Slovakia: PCBs and HCB are regularly monitored in drinking and surface water, food and other environmental and biological matrices according to a monitoring programme, legislation or research projects. PCBs are still used in power capacitors. PCB manufacture in Slovakia was stopped in 1984 after about 21 500 t had been produced. Out of 4 000 t PCBs used on the territory of Slovakia, a part has been destroyed abroad by incineration, a part is landfilled, a part is in use (power capacitors) and the rest, about which there is no data, could release into the environment (more than 2 000 t). PCB levels found in the Slovak general population are considerably higher in comparison with European countries except CR. Because of elevated PCB and HCB levels in the Slovak human general population a national or at least case study focused on exposure and risk assessment is a matter of great urgency.

Bosnia and Herzegovina: No information on POPs production and monitoring. PCBs can still be found in many closed systems but there are no exact data.

Slovenia: There has been no PCBs production in the country. POPs can be formed in few incinerators that operate in Slovenia. In the past, there was an accident involving PCBs contamination of environment in Jemic around the Krupa river. Electrical devices containing PCBs were replaced. PCBs and HCB monitoring continues in drinking and surface water, food and environmental matrices.

Romania: The manufacture of transformers and capacitors containing PCBs was stopped in 1986.

Bulgaria: POP inventory has started. The use of POPs is regulated by acts. Monitoring runs in limited extent.

Albania: PCB analysis in transformer oils was performed. Transformer oil and oil from used cars can be a source of POP contamination. No production of POPs, no ongoing monitoring goes on a regular basis. There are no waste incinerators in Albania.

Hungary: Hungary has a completed background material containing general information on POPs, emission data and the use of POPs.

All the international questionnaires were completed as requested. Most of POPs is banned in Hungary. POP inventories were performed based on TNO emission factors. Major sources of emission in Hungary for PCBs are: power plant combustion (55%), pyrogeneous emissions from household and industry; for PCDDs/Fs: waste incineration (44.9%), household firing (24.7%), power plant combustion (13.2%); for HCB: emissions from the decomposition of residential waste were calculated only.

Croatia: There is no manufacture of PCBs in Croatia. In 1997, more than 2 000 t of PCB oils from various countries were imported. There are 405 users of 22 532 PCBs capacitors and 293 users of PCB transformers in Croatia. There is no PCB destruction capacity in the country. A part of PCB transformer and condenser oils were exported to France for destruction. The data related to monitoring the PCB releases to Kupa river in 1982, and data related on the monitoring of soil, ground water, surface water and human exposure should be verified.

Q2:

Poland: There is little knowledge on POP levels in various media. There is a lack of central information system and database containing facts on concentrations in various media. These gaps in knowledge exist specially in the case of PCDDs/Fs.

Czech Republic: Few monitoring programmes concerning POP environmental levels exist in the CR – 10 years of monitoring of POPs on a regional level in all the environmental compartments in the area of Košetice observatory, south Bohemia, Teplice, Silesia, and Prague projects.

Slovakia: On a systematic basis, PCBs, HCB, PCDDs/Fs were monitored for one year (1996-97) in Slovakia’s ambient air (PHARE programme). Currently, the monitoring does not continue due to a lack of financial means. PCBs and HCB are regularly analyzed within a monitoring programme. A pilot project aimed at the levels of POPs in the Slovak human general population was realized in a period of 1994-96. A case study focused on PCBs and HCB levels in the environment, food and humans in a district highly contaminated by PCBs has started in 1998. A detailed PCB inventory involving inspections of PCB disposal sites and equipment (capacitors and transformers) that are supposed to contain PCBs is urgently needed in order to reveal highly contaminated sites and take measures to safe PCB destruction.

Q3:

PCBs contamination was identified as significant in few countries (Slovakia, Slovenia, CR, Croatia). Sediments and soils in all the countries are probably contaminated or in some specific cases heavily contaminated by PCBs and pesticides. As PCB concentrations are expected to be decreasing one can expect a decrease in risk, as well.

Q4:

Based on existing monitoring and research data especially in the CR, Slovakia, and Slovenia some estimates on trends of POPs in environmental media can be realized. The countries of the region need emission inventories based on real measurements of emission factors, effective monitoring systems and a scientific, research and information network focused on POPs. In some countries of the region there is no monitoring of POPs due to unsuitable analytical background and financial problems. Some countries from the region with good expertise in the field of POP monitoring, inventories, exposure and risk assessment could be involved in monitoring, inventory activities and research programmes within the region.

Q5:

All the countries in the region have insufficient financial resources needed for better understanding releases and levels of POPs. Information on POP problems on the governmental, industrial and public levels is insufficient, as well. Legislation regarding POPs should meet the EU legislation as soon as possible.

Session 2:

Possible National Actions and Strategies to Address Relevant POPs Issues

Guidance Questions:

• Inter-ministerial consensus-building efforts; and
• Meetings with stakeholders

Q1:

• Each country needs inventories of POP emissions, releases, contaminated equipment, sources of POPs , especially of PCDDs/Fs

• Some regional inventories can be used for other countries in the region (similar technologies, similar state of technologies, similar economical conditions)

• All the countries need to develop:

• on the national level:
• an inventory of POP emissions and releases
• an inventory of sources of POPs including hot spots and contaminated equipment
• establish network of experts dealing with POP problems
• prepare:

• list of experts,
• list of POP information (reports, papers, databases…)
• list of POP activities(conferences, symposia, workshops, seminars..)

• on the regional level:
• establish an expert network on POP problems
• establish an information exchange network on:
• governmental level
• expert level

• on the regional/global level:
• establish center for exchange of technological alternatives, new technologies…

• collect the information:
• UNEP questionnaires
• common information
• regional database

• Prepare regional case studies - with impact to whole region:

• PCBs – Slovakia – former producer + all countries were/are users – national level of contamination + disposal programme
• Disposal of pesticides in Poland

Q 2 and Q 3:

• Each country needs adequate environmental legislation generally based on EU legislative including chemical law, chemical safety law etc.

• Each country needs to establish national co-ordinating mechanisms involving:

• Relevant government authorities
• Other national partners
• Public

• Each country have to prepare "National Action POPs Plan" (main activities in this field, co-ordination between ministries, contacts with industry, with NGO, public information campaigns.

• Each country can use many international experiences, guidelines:

• European Emission Inventory Guidebook,
• EU Guidelines
• US EPA
• Canada
• OECD

• Create mechanisms for overcoming inter-ministerial barriers (resortism)

Possible Regional Cooperation to Manage POPs

1. Leaflets on POPs translated into National languages; follow-up technical meeting.

2. Start up with 2-3 persons " Initiative Group" to build up network concerning POPs with cooperation of UNEP and others

3. Common items- need for Inventory; implement PIC procedure regionally ; analyses of POPs of concern; in particular dioxin and furans; looking for cost - effective methods ; destruction/disposal of obsolete chemicals - BASEL focal points; harmonized/ unified questionnaire POPs.

4. All of 3

5. Common projects of implementation to have better cooperation between neighboring countries; including exchange of information -experts, labs, clearing house.

6. EBRD.., need for more industry association participation; environmental public interest groups including labour.

- Initiative for National network on POPs & regional work on POPs trough follow- up meeting;

- UNDP - UN Development Programme and World Bank ; IMF - Internatonal Monetary Fund

- WHO / FAO assistance Programme

Working Group Pesticides

Status of Releases and Levels in Countries and

Needs for Further Information and Research

1. What is known with regard to sources and releases of POPs in countries?

2. What is known with regard to levels of various POPs in different media?

• Is it possible to identify trends with the estimation and monitoring systems/programmes, which could assist in evaluating successes of actions to reduce/eliminate releases?
• Which tools, such as inventories and networks, would be needed to make information more easily accessible and useable?

Results of discussion:

- Present status of using POPs pesticides was expressed by representants of participating countries - there is no legal use of POPs pesticides in the region. Table in Annex I. present status of POPs pesticides use in participating countries. In some respect POPs are not directly banned but they are not listed for use in registers (Albania, Croatia, Czech Republic, Slovak Republic).

- Potential risk is linked with storage of not used pesticides including POPs. In this respect Poland has evidence of storage more than 10 000 tones of unused pesticides (mixture of different pesticides including POPs). This was identified as a possible hot spot in the region. Slovenia has no identified problems in this respect.

- It was expressed by some of the countries that higher concern is needed also in respect of present use of other pesticides which are persistent in the environment that are not included in POPs in the present time

- Some of the countries - Bosnia and Herzegovina - lack of information about use, import and storage of POPs pesticides has been expressed. Macedonia will complete information later directly to UNEP Chemicals.

- In some of the countries (for example Bulgaria) it was recognised that concentrations of POPs pesticides in environmental media decreased on such low levels that no further systematic monitoring is needed. Different situation could be found in Albania where still relatively high concentrations are measured in water and sediments (DDT). In the Slovak Republic measured data show high exposure to HCB from not known source which resulted in fact that critically high concentrations could be found in human tissues

- Either monitoring of POPs pesticides in some countries is now done for more than 20 years measurements and data processing were not done in every case by systematic way. This resulted to need of comprehensive and detailed inventory of excessible data and improvement of status where needed.

- All of the countries expressed need for continual monitoring of agricultural products mainly imported from other countries outside of the region

Further information/needs:

• - exchange of information between countries in the region about actual situation and data from continual monitoring, regional evaluation of trends
• - strengthening of the practical co-operation in the region (Danube River)
• - co-operation in respect of technologies for detoxification of unused pesticides and environmental friendly agricultural practice
• - call for co-ordination between different sectors on national and international level
• - action for identification of hot-spots - regional co-operation and international support
• - increase the level of understanding between decision makers and scientists and support of consultancy capacities in national level

Barriers:

- 1 country - access to information through internet (Albania)

- Language on national level - to involve interested parties working in POPs problems and chemicals management

Possible National Actions and Strategies to Address Relevant POPs Issues

Guidance Questions:

• Inter-ministerial consensus-building efforts; and
• Meetings with stakeholders

In discussion about present situation in the Region in respect of pollution by POPs pesticides in the environmental media, it was stated that detailed information were collected by the international team conducted the Regional Pesticide Study (Project No.. 950100). It was expressed high interest of participating countries to receive copy of the project reports to the POPs Focal points. Request will be addressed to PCU Vienna.

Inventory of unwanted POPs - Poland has expressed they offer to develop- methodology (Guidelines) covering experiences of the country in this field. It was recognised that inventories on different level of complexity is available in most of the countries:

Albania –inventory completed

Bulgaria – inventory 1996

Croatia - POPs National profile

Hungary - inventory for dangerous chemicals, PIC procedure - exports and imports

Poland - inventory ongoing

Romania - inventory for POPs pesticides 1992 – completed

Macedonia – information will be sent directly to UNEP chemicals

Slovak and Czech Republic

Slovenia - inventory completed, no POPs pest in stock

Information - Meeting for pesticides - 5th Forum - June 1998 in Bilbao

Network for registration, production and use of pesticides is working in the countries of region. In this respect we cannot see a need for establishment of specific network for POPs pesticides.

Information on POPs hazards was identified to be satisfactory. For existing risks a case

studies with share of information to be done

- Slovakia- HCB - information exchange

- Risks to population and to the environment from- stock - Poland

- Albania - DDT

- Poland -Case study - animal feed import outside the subregion - POPs pesticides, information network

Waste Disposal Technologies – not available in the subregion

Poland – semi-mobil incinerator (tender phase)

Chemical legislation - in most countries ongoing process of harmonisation with EU legislation

- Albania - chemical legislation – need for advisory

CEUREC – Organization of Central and Eastern European is working –

Mr. Zoltan Ocko, Ministry of Agriculture

V. Kossuth ter 11, Budapest, Hungary

Pesticides use data - Guidelines UK - EU- OECD-available. To ask OECD to invite as observers for specific topics non-OECD countries.

It was suggested to include in the Budapest Pesticides Forum POPs

GIFAP EUFAP

National Association of Producers of Pesticides - proposal for legislation

Information Campaign

Community groups - involve them in campaigns for incineration.

Forum of NGOs - support by information share

high quality of technical information - available also single language

Slovenia, Croatia and Hungary presented their activities to co-ordinate the work on chemical management including POPs on National level. National structures are presented in annexes..

Annex 1: Structure of the Central Co-ordinating Uniting Facilitating Advisory Body in Slovenia

Annex 2: Government Commission for Safe Chemical Management in Croatia

Possible Regional Cooperation to Manage POPs

Guidance Questions:

Results of discussion:

Regional Cooperation should be supported and encourage in several levels:

• support and increase activities done by existing structures – Forum in Budapest, ACA and Pesticides Forum (Denmark), activities of UNEP, FAO, etc.

• exchange information between POPs focal points in the region

• organising regional workshops on different topics related to POPs and chemicals management

• initiate case studies relevant in the region in co-operation with international bodies and financing institutions

They are agreed candidates for case studies relevant in this respect for POPs management:

• Risks linked to the storage of unwanted pesticides, inventory and management

• Danube river POPs pollution – advanced study focusing to identify Hot Spots

• Population exposure and risk assessment to HCB

• Inventory of available technologies, management tools for safe disposal, handling and liquidation of POPs pesticides – targeting needs of the countries in the region

• Priority setting on the national and regional level – managing POPs, POPs candidates and Chemicals Management

• Control of POPs residues in animal feed

Responsible country should send the short proposal to the UNEP chemicals and countries in the region till end of May 1998.

There was presented offer to involve NGOs in the region into the process of public education, capacity building and others. Contact address is included as Annex 1.

Annex 1 : Request for information about NGOs