UNEP
Regionally Based
Assessment of Persistent
Toxic Substances
Mediterranean Region
Minutes of the 1st Meeting of the Regional Team
17-18 May 2001, Barcelona
The Meeting, held in the premises of the Supporting Institution, Centro de Investigación y
Desarrollo (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas), in Barcelona, was attended by
Paul Whylie. UNEP Chemicals. Project Manager
Joan Albaiges. CSIC, Barcelona. Regional Coordinator
Elena deFelip. ISS, Rome.
Fouad Abousamra. UNEP, Athens.
Jean François Narbonne. U.B., Bordeaux.
Mladen Picer. RBI, Zagreb.
Jean-Pierre Villeneuve. IAEA, Monaco.
Aldo Iacomelli. EALP, Livorno
Jordi Bruno. UPC, Barcelona
Jordi Diaz. IQS, Barcelona
Jordi Dachs. CSIC, Barcelona (partially)
Ricardo Barra. EULA, Chile. Regional Coordinator for Region XI
Opening of the meeting
The RC welcomed all participants, appreciated their involvement in the Project and presented
the objectives of the Meeting.
The participants made a short presentation of themselves and expressed their willingness to
participate in the Project.
The Agenda enclosed as Annex 1 was adopted.
_________________________________
RT: Regional Team. TM: Team member. RC: Regional Coordinator. PM: Project Manager.
1
Overview of the project
The PM, Paul Whylie, explained the general aims of the Project from the standpoint of its
Objectives:
- Measure damages and threats of PTS
- Provide GEF and UNEP rationale to assign priorities for future action on chemical
issues
- To determine differences in priority among regions
The expected results :
- Identification of sources of PTS in the regions
- Assessment of impact of PTS on human health and the environment
- Assessment of transboundary transport of PTS
(A group of experts on modelling will be created. Individual names can be suggested)
- Assessment of root causes of PTS problems and capacity to manage regionally
- Identification of regional and global priority PTS environmental issues
The outputs:
- Establishment of a network of PTS experts
- Establishment of a management and co-ordination structure
- Twelve comprehensive Regional Reports
- One Global Report
The proposed format is:
- Approximately 160 countries slotted into the 12 regions of the globe
- Regional Co-ordinators established for each region
- 4-5 Regional Team Members to assist Co-ordinator
- Project Manager appointed at UNEP Chemicals
- A Steering Group to advise Project Manager
And the general workplan:
- Project to run for 2 years
- Data to be collected over 8 months April - November, 2001
- Country Experts to lead data collection
- Questionnaires available through all media in 6 lenguages
- Technical Workshops to discuss sources, environmental concentrations, effects, etc.
- A Regional Priority Setting Meeting to discuss draft Regional Report
- Small task force to prepare review paper on alternatives to PTS
- Global Priority Setting Meeting to discuss draft Global Report
- Global Report developed highlighting major issues
- Global Report provides guidance to the GEF for future action
The project will mainly be based on electronic communication, so a website has been
designed as a hub for communication and information flow for scientists and others around
the world.
The address is: http://www.chem.unep.ch/pts/
2
Discussion on the TOR for the Regional Team
The objectives, the workplan and the timetable of the Project for the region were presented by
the RC and endorsed by the RT.
It was stressed the importance of the promotion of the Project within the whole region, in
order to accomplish the objectives of the Contribution phase and the successful production of
the Regional Report. It was also stressed that the development of the Project mainly relies on
Email communication.
Both the geographical and subject coverages were considered, and each TM was assigned an
area of responsibility, as follows:
Spain & Portugal: J. Albaiges
France: J.F. Narbonne
Italy: E. de Felip
Adriatic area & Turkey: M. Picer
Greece & Eastern Med.: F. Abousamra
North Africa: J.P. Villeneuve
Sources: J. Bruno and A. Iacomelli
Environmental levels: J. Albaiges, J.P. Villeneuve and M. Picer
Effects: J.F. Narbonne and E. de Felip
Transport pathways: J. Albaiges
Management issues: F. Abousamra, J. Bruno and A. Iacomelli
The members were requested to identify information sources in their geographical area, as
well as contact persons (experts) to be invited to contribute to the Report. Focal points in
countries not represented in the RT could be of great help during the contribution phase. All
the information collected by the members should be centralized by the RC for further
circulation within the Team.
Moreover, multinational organizations (e.g. IMO, IOC, FAO, WHO, WMO, ILO, EU DG
XI,...) and industrial associations (e.g. CEFIC, Euroclor, Clean Prod. Center,...) should be
contacted. Previous exchange of information with other RC will be advisable, in order to
avoid duplications or troubles with the institutions. F. Abousamra offered the possibility of
contacting the national coordinators for the MEDPOL Program, and to organize a
presentation of the Project in their coming meeting. The members list was circulated.
Letters of formal appointment were requested by the TM to facilitate their duties within the
Project. Moreover, a Memorandum of Understanding will be signed between the supporting
Institution and each TM, regarding the financial support. The terms will be discussed
bilaterally.
Discussion on the questionnaires and data gathering
The Information Management System of the Project was presented and different doubts and
queries concerning its implementation were clarified by the PM. The Project web site was
also visited.
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A crucial point, at this stage, is the data gathering through the questionnaires. Much concern
was expressed about their filling by industry (e.g. on sources) and by institutions with large
data sets (e.g. IFREMER). On the contrary, they could be useful for collecting unpublished
data from some places, particularly in developing countries.
In order to ensure a wide participation of countries, the TM should identify, as soon as
possible, experts in their area of responsibility (see previous item in the Minutes). The
possibility of visiting countries or institutions was also discussed. Project presentations in
other Meetings or Symposia in the region was recommended (e.g. MEDPOL, CIESM,...).
Further suggestions will be welcome.
Discussion and proposals for the Regional Network of experts
Some TM indicated that the lists of POPs Focal points and Country experts contain names
which are neither representative nor active in the field. Therefore, there is an urgent need for
updating this information.
A true operational list of experts should be completed, as soon as possible, as it is necessary
for:
- the promotion of the Project
- the distribution of questionnaires
- the request of contributions for the WS
- the distribution of the Report for review
Country experts will be identified by the TM according to the distribution of responsibilities
endorsed previously and their addresses sent to the RC. An adequate list will be compiled by
the RC and circulated. The PM will be informed of the relevant members for its inclusion in
the website list.
Presentation of the regional literature survey
As part of the background material necessary for the Project, J. Díaz presented the results of a
literature survey covering the years 1980-2000 for the candidate substances for assessment.
The survey included 2082 references, easy retrievable, which were organised in a database of
Reference Manager programme. Among these references, 70 were reviews about different
topics on PTS in the region. The analysis of the regional database showed that PCB, DDT
and dioxins and furans were the "dirty dozen" PTS that accumulate the higher number of
references. A preliminary search about other PTS candidates seemed to indicate the interest
of including in the assessment compounds such as PAHs, HCH (lindane), organotins,
phthalates, alkylphenols and brominated flame retardants. Some temporal and geographical
trends were identified and a compartment (air, water, sediment, soil/sludge, human, animals,
etc.) analysis was also presented.
The major outputs of the database will be: (1) identification of regional experts as those
authors who have a lot of published references about PTS, (2) background information,
complementary to that of the questionnaires, for the Regional Team about sources, levels,
health effects, etc. It is intended that the literature database constitutes an Annex of the
Regional Report.
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Following the literature presentation, the selection of priority chemicals for regional
assessment was discussed. As a base for discussion were taken the list of substances
distributed by UNEP-Chemicals, and the list of chemicals included in the Mediterranean
strategic Action Programme, provided by the MEDPOL Unit.
It was agreed to include the following chemicals in the assessment:
Aldrin
Dieldrin
Endrin
Chlordane
Heptachlor
PCBs
DDT
Hexachlorobenzene
Toxaphene
Mirex
Dioxins & Furans
Lindane
PBBs & PBDEs
PAHs
Phthalates
Alkylphenols
Organotin compounds
Discussion on the Outline for the Regional Report
The different sections of the Regional Report were discussed to clarify the contents and
distribute responsibilities.
The Report should have an extension in the order of 100 pages, with the necessary annexes if
required (e.g. literature survey, Workshop papers, ...).
The Report should incorporate:
- materials already existing in the scientific and official literature
- data obtained through filled questionnaires
- contributed papers from Workshops or specifically requested
The TM will start to produce extended summaries and preliminary drafts for each section,
even though additional information from the contribution phase will be available at a later
stage and should be incorporated accordingly.
The RT is the unique responsible for the edition of the Regional Report. However, external
assistance can be requested and moderately indemnized, if necessary. This can be done using
the resources made available to the TM, or with those foreseen for the data gathering and the
organization of Workshops, depending on the type of contribution requested. It is understood
that the budget limitations require an efficient use of the resources. As soon as the external
contributors are identified, a proposal of expenditure should be directed to the RC.
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It was agreed that besides a general regional coverage of all the items, special emphasis
should be placed in illustrating the situation in the region through specific and well defined
case studies. Existing national and international programs should also be reported.
The responsible persons for each section will be:
1. Preface and Introduction
J. Albaiges
2. Source Characterisation
J. Bruno and A. Iacomelli
3. Environmental Levels, Toxicological and Ecotoxicological Characterisation
i) Concentrations of PTS in biotic and abiotic compartments
Spain & Portugal: J. Albaiges
France: J.F. Narbonne
Italy: to be selected
Adriatic area & Turkey: M. Picer
Greece & Eastern Med.: F. Abousamra
North Africa: J.P. Villeneuve
ii) Concentrations of PTS in humans
E. De Felip
iii) Evidence of harmful effects
In the ecosystem: J.F. Narbonne
In humans: E. De Felip
iv) Comparison of measured data with health or environmental (including food) quality
criteria
J.F. Narbonne, E. De Felip
v) Existence of regionally derived ecotoxicological data and appropriate test species;
J.F. Narbonne
F. Abousamra offered the information existing in the MAP Unit in Athens generated by the
MEDPOL project.
E. De Felip and A. Iacomelli will look for the information existing in WHO and FAO,
respectively.
4. Assessment of Major Pathways of Contaminants Transport
J. Albaiges, J. Dachs
5. Preliminary Assessment of the Regional Capacity and Needs to Manage PTS
i) Capacity to monitor PTS
J.P. Villeneuve
ii) Existing regulation and management structures addressing PTS
iii) Status of enforcement in the region
F. Abousamra
iv) Examples of alternatives or measures for reduction;
v) Technology transfer issues;
J. Bruno, A. Iacomelli
6. Conclusions
(All)
6
The following schedule for the delivery of background materials was adopted:
10 July 2001. Extended index of each section, including basic information sources.
10 December 2001. Executive summary of the section (8-10 pages).
15 April 2002. First draft of each section, incorporating the materials from the
contribution phase (questionnaires and workshop papers).
30 April 2002. Summary of the information or technical gaps, research needed,
conclusions, etc.
2 September 2002. Second draft of the Report, including conclusions and priorities for
action.
25 October 2002. Presentation of the Regional Report.
Discussion on the organization of the Technical and Priority Setting Workshops
The timetable for the Workshops was reviewed and found that December is not the best
period for organizing meetings. Therefore, it was proposed to move them to the first months
of 2002, according to the following schedule:
WS 1. Assessment of PTS sources and PTS concentration in the environment
4-8 February 2002
Athens (Greece).
Chairpersons: F. S. Civili and J. Bruno
WS 2. Assessment of (eco)toxicological impact of PTS and transboundary transport
25-28 March 2002 (or 2-5 April)
Rome (Italy).
Chairpersons: E. DeFelip and J. Albaiges
WS 3. Regional Priority Setting Meeting
26-29 June 2002
France (?).
The WS may have a duration of 3 days, plus one day for discussion within the Regional
Team. Parallel sessions could be organized in case of unrelated topics to be discussed. The
exact dates should be confirmed by the local responsibles.
About 15 participants can be invited for WS 1. and 2. and 30 for WS 3. Other participants
can also be accepted at their own costs. A balance between government, academia and
industry presentations should be ensured. These experts will be identified by the Regional
Team and invited to attend, with a written contribution.
The WS should be regionally advertised for open contributions. The publication of the
Proceedings in a specialized Journal can be envisaged in order to attract the interest of
participants and the promotion of the Project.
The 2nd and 3rd Regional Team Meetings will be organized at the end of April and September,
respectively, and the places proposed were Dubrovnik (Croatia) and Barcelona.
7
Summary and other business
The PM and the RC acknowledged the attendance of all TM and expressed the best wishes
for the development of the Project in the region.
A summary of the Workplan is shown below.
WORKPLAN: SUMMARY OF PROJECT ACTIVITIES AND RESPONSIBLE PERSONS
Activity
Time period
Details
Country level contribution phase
April 2001-
Assembled data on PTS from all
November 2001
countries involved in the project.
1st Regional Team Meeting
17-18 May 2001
Meeting report. Agreement on
development of report. Team members
responsibilities established.
Detailed index of each section
10 July 2001
To be circulated within the RT before
summer. This will include the
information sources to be considered.
Executive summary of each
10 December 2001
To be circulated within the RT before
section
the end of the year (8-10 pages each).
Workshop on sources and
4-8 February
Athens (Greece).
environmental concentrations
2002
Chairpersons: F. S. Civili, J. Bruno
Draft chapters for Regional Report
Workshop on impact and
25-28 March (?)
Rome (Italy).
transport
2002
Chairpersons: E. DeFelip, J. Albaiges
Draft chapters for the Regional Report
2nd Regional Team Meeting
25-27 April 2002
Dubrovnik (Croatia).
First draft report.
Data gaps and conclusions
Regional Priority Setting Meeting
26-29 June 2002
France (?). List of regional priorities.
for Regional Report
3rd Regional Team Meeting
16-20 September
Barcelona (Spain)
2002
Second draft report.
Final draft of Regional Report
September-
Review and editing of the Regional
October 2002
Report
Print report
25 October 2002
Copies of Regional Report for each
country in the region, for each
member of the team and 10 copies for
GEF/UNEP. Three copies of the
Report to be made available on CD
Rom to UNEP
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