Training Workshop on the Updating of National

Implementation Plans (NIPs) for Persistent Organic Pollutants

(POPs)

4-6 April 2016Suva, Fiji

Have those items something in common?Yes or No?

THIS PRESENTATION

• Stockholm Convention and the initial POPs

• Overview of the POPs listed in 2009, 2011 and 2013

• Situation in the Pacific Islands

Stockholm Convention and the initial POPs

At a glance:

Annexes to the Convention

Annex A (Elimination)

Each Party shall prohibit and/or take the legal and administrative measures necessary to eliminate its production and use of chemicals in Annex A subject to the provisions of that Annex

Annex B (Restriction)

Each Party shall restrict its production and use of chemicals in Annex B in accordance with the provisions of that Annex

Annex C (Continuing minimization)

Each Party shall take measures to reduce the total releases derived from anthropogenic sources of each of the chemicals listed in Annex C, with the goal of their continuing minimization and, where feasible, ultimate elimination

INITIAL POPs

Pesticide Industrial

Chemical

Unintentional

Aldrin +

Chlordane +

DDT +

Dieldrin +

Endrin +

Heptachlor +

Mirex +

Toxaphene +

Hexachlorobenzene + + +

PCB + +

PCDD +

PCDF +

INITIAL POPs

9

GLOBAL ISSUE: obsolete pesticides stockpiles and PCBs

OVERVIEW OF THE POPS LISTED in 2009, 2011 and 2013

POPs listed in 2009, 2011 and 2013

Chemical PesticidesIndustrial

chemicals

Unintentional

productionAnnex

Chlordecone

Lindane

Alpha hexachlorocyclohexane

Beta hexachlorocyclohexane

Endosulfan

+

+

+

+

+

By-product of lindane

By-product of lindane

A

A

A

A

A

Hexabromodiphenyl ether and

heptabromodiphenyl ether

Tetrabromodiphenyl ether and

pentabromodiphenyl ether

Hexabromobiphenyl

Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, its

salts and perfluorooctane sulfonyl

fluoride

Hexabromocyclododecane

+

+

+

+

+

+

A

A

A

B

A

Pentachlorobenzene + + A, C

Endosulfan

Listed in: Annex A (Elimination)

Production: Exemptions for Parties listed in Register of specific exemptions

Use: Exemptions for crop-pest complexes (example: wheat/aphids) as listed in accordance with the provisions of part VI of Annex A

alpha-endosulfan(CAS No: 959-98-8)

beta-endosulfan(CAS No: 33213-65-9)

• Decision adopted at COP5 in April 2011• Entry into force: 27 October 2012• NIPs to be updated 2 years after entry into force

Technical endosulfan (CAS No: 115-29-7)

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)

• Polybromodiphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are industrial chemicals widely used as flame retardants since 1970s.

• PBDEs were produced at three degrees of bromination:

– Commercial Pentabromodiphenyl ether (c-PentaBDE), production (most probably) stopped in 2004.

– Commercial Octabromodiphenyl ether (c-OctaBDE) production (most probably) stopped in 2004.

– Commercial DecaBDE (c-DecaBDE) which is still produced.

Life cycle of c-PentaBDE(adapted from Alcock et al.2003)

Life cycle of c-OctaBDE (adapted from Alcock et al.2003)

Fig. C

E-Waste management practices

E-waste recycling residues at river bank SE-Asia

• What is the flow of PBDE/BFR in recycled materials? What articles are contaminated? What are risks to human and the environment?

PBDE in children toys South China(Chen et al, ES&T 43, 4200, 2009)

The recycling flow of PBDE/BFR containing plastic seems largely uncontrolled. Hence further allowance of recycling of PBDE containing articles (currently) increases the environmental and health risks

PBDE/BFR Contamination of Recycled Plastic?

Time Trend of POP-PBDEs in EuropeTime trend of some POPs in Human milk Sweden.

Use and human exposure of POP-PBDEs

• Largest use of POP-PBDE in North America with specific flammability standards for e.g. furniture and transport.

• PBDE human milk levels from 3rd WHO study for the different regions.

Malisch R (2003) results 3rd WHO human milk survey

Listed in Annex A (Elimination)

Production: Total ban - No exemption

Use: Total ban of use in NEW products and articles

Exemption for recycling of articles: May allow recycling of articles that (may) contain the chemicals (octa and penta)

POP-BDEs in the Stockholm Convention

In May 2009 at COP 4,

Decision SC-4/14

Decision SC-4/18

PFOS bioaccumulates and biomagnifies.

The half-live in humans is approximately 5 years.

PFOS does not follow the classic POPs-pattern

(not into fatty tissues), but instead binds to proteins.

Therefore accumulate mainly in organs such as

liver, kidney, brain and spleen.

In animal studies PFOS causes cancer, neonatal

mortality; physical development delays and

endocrine disruption.

PFOS - bioaccumulation and healtheffects

Past use: PFOS is both intentionally produced and an unintended

degradation product of PFOS-related substances (PFOS

precursors). Examples of use include: electronic

appliances, fire-fighting foams, water proof for textile,

leather, etc.

Currently: PFOS is still produced and used in several countries.

Alternatives: Available for some types of use but no known technically

feasible alternatives for some applications e.g. semi-

conductor, photo imaging

Listed: Annex B (restrictions and specific exemptions)

Photo imaging,

Photo resist and anti-reflective coatings for semi-conductors,

Etching agent for compound semi-conductors and ceramic filters,

Aviation hydraulic fluids,

Metal plating only in closed-loop systems,

Certain medical devices (e.g. ETFE layers, radio-opaque ETFE, in vitro

diagnostic medical devices, CCD color filters),

Fire fighting foam,

Insect baits for control of leaf-cutting ants.

PFOS Use: Acceptable purposes

PFOS Use: Specific exemptions

3M stoppedPFOS in 2000

Cleaning agents

Polishes for cars/floor

Waxes (e.g. ski)

Paints

Cosmetics

Other former uses of PFOS not listed SO THEY ARE BANNED

In 2005 the Buncefield oil refinery suffered the worst petroleum fire within the UK for some decades.

PFOS based aqueous fire fighting foams

(AFFF)

Areas relevant for assessing PFOS

Challenges

Articles in use?

Stockpiles? (fire fighting foams;

Potentially contaminated sites:

Fire incidents (where fire fighting foam was used);

Fire fighting practice (air ports, refinery, oil),

PFOS user (plating industry, others?),

Landfills.

Key considerations - PFOS

SITUATION OF THE PACIFIC ISLANDS

GEF - National implementation plans under the Stockholm Convention

PacificIslands

MarshalIslands

Kiribati

Tonga

Solomon Islands

Nauru

PalauCook

Islands

PapuaNew

Guinea

Tuvalu

Samoa

Fiji

Fiji

The main issues in the plan are as follows toaddress the different Annexes or Articles in theConvention:

POPs and other Pesticides POPs – focusing on Poly Chlorinated Biphenyls Unintentional Releases of POPs Chemical Stockpiles and Contaminated Sites Public Awareness, Information and Education Research, Development and Monitoring

IN 2013:

KiribatiNIPs priority action

plans Setting up and running a Chemicals Unit for 5 years

Chemicals and Waste Management Unit (2011)

Undertaking travelling workshop on each island

Action Plan on Policy and Legislation

Kiribati Amendment Environment Act 2007

Identified 5 national priorities – CC, Biodiversity and Conservation, Chemicals and Waste Management,

Resource Management and Environmental Governance

Action Plan on Public Education and Awareness

Draft National Environment Communication Strategy (2013)

Action Plan on Capacity Building

Action Plan on Priority Areas

Draft National Sound Chemical and Hazardous Waste Implementation Plan (2013)

FSM

Hazardous waste in the FSM

Includes POPS and electronic wastes (e-waste)

Management for POPS is covered by Stockholm

Convention National Implementation Plan (NIP)

Overlap in the area of organic waste management

since burning of organic wastes produces uPOPs

E-waste is a growing problem

SPREP E-waste strategy as a guide

OPT IN COUNTRY

Tuvalu Government priorities:

The reduction or elimination of releases from intentional production and use of POPs.

Reduction and elimination of unintentional production of POPs.

The reduction or elimination of releases from stockpiles and wastes.

Measures related to information exchange public information, awareness, and education research, development and monitoring.

Target areas:

Electricity( PCBsTranformers)

Agriculture ( Pesticide)

Public Health ( Medical wastes)

Samoa

Initial Inventory on POPs -2003 Institutional Capacity Assessment – 2004

Trade & Use of Intentional POPs – Legally banned in Samoa POPs Contaminated Sites (Cleared and Sealed) PCBs Transformers – Banned (phased-out 1986)

Obsolete Pesticides – Cleared and Re-exported to NZ (Shipped out under FAO Program)

New POPs – Absence of inventory and update

• U-POPs minimization – controlled and regulated under the Waste Management Act 2010

• Motor Vehicles and Power Plants Emission Standards –Regulated by the Land Transport Authority and Samoa Electric

Power Corporation

• Air Pollution Control Systems for all major technologies –regulated under Planning and Urban Management Act 2007

NIP in PalauRegulatory review:

Most of the original 12 pesticide POPs banned Air Quality Regulations: Illegal to burn without a open burning

permit, limited to organic matter; no burning of plastics, rubber or oil

Several POPs addressed under Water Quality Regulations Landfill rehabilitation – also JICA supported and GEF IWP

Used oil stored in 1 million gallon tank at Aimeliik Power Plant Last export emptied tank (oil left 2 feet deep) 800,000 gallons

(sent to Phillipines) Incinerators – two inactive. 1. Airai State 2. Hospital – issues with

possible release of POPs along with other particles. SAICM supported National Chemical Management Policy

New POPs will be incorporated

Palau

Yes or No

Quiz time:

1. Write one article containing PFOS

2. Write one articles containing PBDEs

3. Do you know the difference betweenexemptions and acceptable purposes? Give

an example

• Stockholm Convention is a living international treaty

• 9 new POPs added to the Stockholm Convention in 2009, one in 2011,

• Pesticides:• Main challenge is disposal of obsolete stockpiles

• Increasing number of industrial chemicals:• Widespread distribution in products & articles in use• Contamination of recycling streams• Environmentally sound disposal of wastes

• PCB: still an issue!

To remember:

For more information:

Contact: Jacqueline Alvarez

jacqueline.alvarez@unep.org

Vinaka