Stockholm convention

The Stockholm convention was based on the persistent organic pollutants (POPs).

Characteristics of POPs:

·         All they are synthetic chemicals which are produced intentionally or non-intentionally during industrial operations. POPs include pesticides, industrial chemicals and byproducts.

·         They remain long period in the environment. Some may take centuries for degradation.

·         These POPs are extremely toxic, some are carcinogens. Pregnant women who exposure to high level of POPs may not show at least minor symptoms but their new born children possess adverse health effects and disorders.

·         POPs can go through the food chain. POPs accumulate within the fat tissues of animals. Concentration of   POPs is increased form bottom to the top of the food chain. This incident is referred to as the bio-magnification. Thereby it affects the predatory animals in the top level of the food wed. Therefore small concentration of POPs can pose extremely high effect at top level of the food web. 

·         Most POPs generate in one country and effect people and wildlife far from they are released and used due to the trasnboundry movement. POPs go through different phases. POPs evaporate from the water or soil and they return to the land through rain and snow. POPs can go beyond continent with the help of migratory species. Due to the global wind pattern, POPs carry dust winds blow through the Pacific Ocean to North America.

Objective: It is a global treaty to safeguard the people and the environment from POPs.

History: the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) called for global action to be taken on POPs in 1995. Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety (IFCS) IFCS concluded that available information was sufficient to demonstrate that international action in 1996. A globally legal instrument was required to take measure to reduce or eliminate the POPS. The UNEP Governing Council invited (UNEP) to prepare an international legally binding instrument for implementing international action initially beginning with the 12 POPs in 1997.

The convention was signed in 2001 in Stockholm, Sweden. The Convention entered into force on 17 May 2004.

The convention has ratified with 151 signatures and 179 parties.

Regulations:

Article 3 describes measures those are needed to reduce or eliminate releases from intentional production and use. Article 5 describes measures those are needed to reduce or eliminate releases from unintentional production and use. Under article 6, measures are listed to reduce or eliminate releases from stockpiles and wastes.

Each party should take measures to implement the public information, awareness and education programs to protect human health and environment from the POPs as noted in article 10.

Article 10 describes the financial resources and mechanisms to achieve the objective of this Convention. The well developed countries should provide new and additional financial resources to enable developing country Parties to meet the agreed full incremental costs of implementing measures which fulfill their obligations under this Convention.

According to the article 16, effectiveness of this convention should be evaluated after the commencing four years from the date of entry into force of this Convention and periodically thereafter at intervals to be decided by the conference of the parties .

Under Stockholm convention, 12 chemicals are recognized as the dirty dozen. It includes eight pesticides, two industrial chemicals and two byproducts.  Intentionally produced chemicals to be eliminated were listed in annex one. Intentionally produced chemicals with restrictions were listed in annex two. Persistent organic pollutants when formed and released unintentionally from anthropogenic sources are listed in annex c.

Annex A: Aldrin, Chlordane, Dieldrin, Endrin, Hexachlorobenzene, Heptachlor, Mirex, PCBs and Toxaphene.

Annex B: DDT (1, 1, 1-trichloro-2, 2-bis (4- chlorophenyl) ethane). DDT can be used in disease vector control use in accordance with Part II of this Annex.

Annex C: Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) (CAS No: 118-74-1), Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) and Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/PCDF)

Case study:

DDT was used as a strong insecticide to kill the mosquitoes that spread diseases including malaria and yellow fever during the World War II. After 10 years of usage, adverse health and environmental issues were appeared in the area with heavy use of DDT. Population of hawks, eagles, and ospreys was declined o the farmland across North America and Europe.  DDT accumulated in the bodies of birds through the food chain as they ingest the contaminated fishes. DDT was accumulated in the fatty tissue of the birds. Concentration of DDT was higher in the birds compared to the environment. DDT affected birds produce thin eggshell. Those eggs with thin shell break in the nest as soon as they were laid. Thereby younger population of birds was reduced.