Regionally Based
Assessment of Persistent
Toxic Substances
GEF
MEDITERRANEAN REGION
Priority Setting Meeting
26-28 June 2002
Institut d'Estudis Catalans, Barcelona, (Spain)
Dear Colleague,
Please find enclosed herewith information and organizational details of the Priority Setting
Meeting of the UNEP/GEF Project "Regionally Based Assessment of Persistent Toxic
Substances (RBA PTS)" where you are invited to participate.
This is a major step forward to the global assessment of PTS, which will lead to the
identification of priorities for future GEF intervention to control, reduce or eliminate releases
of PTS, at national, regional or global levels, and stimulate research through the
identification of data gaps.
The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the draft of the Regional Report, and incorporate a
general overview of the countries of the region, particularly regarding the capacity and needs
of governments to manage PTS, including their environmental monitoring and environmental
policy. It is also intended to identify examples of alternatives to PTS chemicals that have
been successfully applied in the region as well as best practices and techniques to minimise
releases of PTS into the environment. This activity will finally establish a list of priority
regional chemical related environmental issues and identify gaps for future action.
The Workshop will combine presentations of the different sections of the Report by the
members of the Regional Team with working group sessions, to discuss the priorities and
data gaps to be considered under the matrices: sources, levels, effects and management. A
closing plenary session is intended for making recommendations and drafting conclusions.
I thank you very much for your cooperation.
Sincerely,
Joan Albaigés
Regional Coordinator
CSIC
Barcelona (Spain)
E-mail:albqam@cid.csic.es
Priority Setting Meeting
26-28 June 2002
Institut d'Estudis Catalans, Barcelona, (Spain)
Agenda
Wednesday, June 26, 2002
09.30 - 10.00 Opening addresses
Overview of the GEF RBA PTS Project J. Albaigés (Spain)
Presentation of the Regional Report (RR)
10.00 - 11.00
Draft of RR Presentation of the chapter on Sources J. Bruno (Spain).
General discussion
11.30 - 11.30
Coffee break
11.30 - 12.15
Draft of RR Presentation of the chapter on Levels in biotic and abiotic.
Compartments A. Barakat (Egypt), M. Picer (Croatia), J. Diaz (Spain).
General discussion
12.15 - 13.00
Draft of RR Presentation of the chapter on Effects in humans and in the
environment - E. de Felip (Italy), J.F. Narbonne (France).
General discussion
13.00 13.30 Draft of RR Presentation of the chapter on Transboundary transport J.
Albaiges (Spain).
General discussion
13.30 - 15.00
Lunch
15.00 - 16.00
Draft of RR Presentation of the chapter on Capacity building and
management J. Bruno (Spain), F. Abousamra (Syria), A. Iacomelli (Italy).
16.00 - 16.30
Coffee break
16.30 - 18.00
General discussion and specific presentations of countries (Annex 1)
19.00
Official reception by the Catalan Government
Thursday, June 27, 2002
09.30 - 10.00
Plenary:"Industry and sustainable development in the Mediterranean region"
V. Maciŕ. Director of the Regional Center for Cleaner Production (Spain).
10.00 - 10.30
Working group sessions.
The participants will be divided into two groups:
-sources and management
-levels and effects
to analyse the presentations and the background documents, to identify
gaps and define priorities and recommendations (Annex 2)
10.30 - 11.00
Coffee break
11.00 - 13.30
Working groups
13.30 - 15.00
Lunch
15.00 - 16.15
Working groups
16.15 - 16.45
Coffee break
16.45 - 18.00
Working groups
20.30 - ....
Common dinner
Friday, June 28, 2002
09.30 - 10.30
Working groups. Scoring exercise (Annex 2)
10.30 - 11.00
Coffee break
11.00 - 13.30
Plenary session. Overview of working group results. Areas of major concern
13.30 - 15.00
Buffet
15.00 - 16.00
Plenary session. Final recommendations. Closing address
Annex 1.
The Table aims to help gathering the information of interest regarding the compounds
assessed in the project. Accordingly, focal points should fill in the table with the information
related to their countries and, particularly, that missing in sections 2 and 5 of the draft report.
For each compound of interest (first column), the following information is required:
1. Legal status: definition of the legal status, either if it is banned or liable to restricted uses.
If possible, indicate date (year) in which the compound was legislated.
2. Handling: it refers to the existing situation related to the handling of the substances. It
should be specified if the compound is being manufactured, used or exported. It can
coexist more than one option. For example, the substance can be produced and exported.
3. Monitoring: it refers to active monitoring networks in the country, as well as if it has
been performed any release inventory or related study.
4. Situation: this is mainly referred to pesticides and PCBs. If possible, it should be filled in
with quantitative data referring to existing stocks, and its situation regarding if they are
in service (i.e. PCBs in transformers) or stockpiled.
5. Waste management: it aims to collect information about waste management practices
(pesticides and industrial chemicals) and abatement measures (by-products). It should
also be referred any existing program on Integrated Pest Management (IPM), technology
transfer, etc.
6. Others (or in another document): please add any relevant data.
Annex 2.
This is part of an important exercise of the project that will help in identifying PTS concerns
and priorities for the region. The exercise will be carried out the last day, before closing the
meeting, but you are requested to prepare the document in advance to facilitate the
discussion.
Annex 1. REGIONALLY BASED ASSESSMENT OF PERSISTENT TOXIC SUBSTANCES
Country:
Chemical
Legal Status
Handling
Monitoring
Situation
Waste
Others
Management
Banned (year)
Manufacture
Use
Export
Air
Water
Biota
Used/In
Stockpiled
Restricted (y)
service
Dieldrin
Aldrin
Endrin
Chlordane
Heptachlor
DDT
Toxaphene
Mirex
HCB
PCBs
Dioxins & Furans
HCH
Endosulfan
Chlorinated Paraffins
PCP
PBDE
PAHs
Phthalates
Nonylphenols
Org. Tin Compds.
Org. Mercury Compds.
Annex 2. Scoring for Prioritising PTS for Sources, Environmental Levels, Effects and Data gaps
Mediterranean Region
Country:
SCORING BY MATRIX
Chemical
Sources Data
Env.
Data Ecotox Data
Human Data
Gaps
Levels Gaps Effects Gaps
Effects Gaps
Dieldrin, Aldrin
& Endrin
Chlordane
Heptachlor
DDT
Toxaphene
Mirex
HCB
PCBs
Dioxins & Furans
HCH
Endosulfan
Chlorinated
Paraffins
PCP
PBBs and PBDEs
PAHs
Phthalates
Alkylphenols
Org. Tin Compds.
Org. Mercury
Compds.
Scores:
Score = 0 chemical is of no concern
Score = 1 chemical has local concern
Score = 2 chemical has regional concern
Chemicals should be tabled according to their placement by score.
A short summary with representative, specific data must be used to justify the score given.
Example of a chemical placed in the Score 1 level for sources of local concern.
SOURCES: Local Concern
CHEMICAL
SCORE COMMENTS
DDT
1
DDT used historically for > 30 years. Approximately
800,000kg now produced annually. 240,000kg used
annually in the country for malaria control and 80,000
kg used in agriculture.