Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
ThePOPsprotocoloriginallytookcontrolactionson16substances(11pesticides,two
industrial chemicals and three by-products/contaminants). It banned (for signatories to the
protocol) the production and use of aldrin, chlordane, chlordecone, dieldrin, endrin, hexab-
romobiphenyl, mirex and toxaphene and set in motion defined steps that led to the eventu-
al elimination of the production and use of DDT, heptachlor, hexaclorobenzene and PCBs
(at that time still in use in Russia and Eastern Europe). The use of DDT, HCH (including
lindane) and PCBs was severely restricted and conditions were prescribed for the disposal
of banned products. It also included a schedule for the reduction of emissions of dioxins,
furans, PAHs and HCB and set out procedures for waste incineration.
The Heavy Metals Protocol targeted cadmium, lead and mercury. Parties were re-
quired to reduce their emissions for these three metals below their levels in 1990 (or an
alternative year between 1985 and 1995). The protocol aimed to cut emissions from indus-
trial sources (iron and steel industry and nonferrous metal industry), combustion processes
(power generation and road transport) and waste incineration. It laid down limit values for
emissions from stationary sources and suggested best available techniques (BATs) for these
sources, such as special filters or scrubbers for combustion sources or mercury-free pro-
cesses. It also required parties to phase out leaded petrol. The protocol introduced meas-
ures to lower heavy metal emissions from other products, such as mercury in batteries, and
proposed the introduction of management measures for other mercury-containing products,
such as electrical components (thermostats, switches), measuring devices (thermometers,
manometers, barometers), fluorescent lamps, dental amalgam, pesticides and paint.
The two CLRTAP protocols have continued to evolve as new monitoring information
on environmental levels and effects on POPs and heavy metals has become available.
For POPs, this has been through the addition of seven new substances controlled by
the protocol (hexachlorobutadiene, octabromodiphenyl ether, pentachlorobenzene, pentab-
romodiphenyl ether, perfluorooctane sulfonates, polychlorinated naphthalenes and short-
chain chlorinated paraffins). At the same time, the obligations for DDT, heptachlor, hexa-
chlorobenzene and PCBs, together with the emission limit values for waste incineration,
have been tightened. For heavy metals, the CLRTAP Executive Body agreed in December
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