Helena Joyce
The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants is an international environmental treaty that aims to eliminate or restrict the production and use of persistent organic pollutants (POPs). POPs are a class of highly hazardous chemical pollutants that pose a serious, global threat to human health and ecosystems. They remain intact for exceptionally long periods of time, become widely distributed throughout the environment, accumulate in living organisms, and have harmful impacts on human health and the environment. The Stockholm Convention lists chemicals in three annexes: Annex A lists chemicals to be eliminated; Annex B lists chemicals to be restricted, including the pesticide DDT; and Annex C calls for minimizing unintentional production and release of listed chemicals.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of Pollutants | Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) |
| Number of Initial Pollutants | 12 ("Dirty Dozen") |
| Current Number of Pollutants | 22 |
| Examples of Pollutants | DDT, PCBs, PAHs, Dioxins, Furans, Mercury, Chlorinated Naphthalenes, Hexachlorobutadiene, Pentachlorophenol |
| Categories | Pesticides, Industrial Chemicals, By-Products |
| Annexes | Annex A (Eliminate), Annex B (Restrict), Annex C (Minimize Unintentional Production) |
| Additional Requirements | National Action Plans, "Best Available Techniques", Proper Waste Management |
| Number of Parties | 186 (185 states and the European Union) |
| Notable Non-Ratifying States | United States, Israel, Malaysia |
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What You'll Learn
Polychlorinated biphenyls
The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants is an international environmental treaty that came into effect on 17 May 2004. It aims to eliminate or restrict the production and use of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), which are chemical substances that persist in the environment and bioaccumulate in the food web, posing a risk to human health and the environment.
PCBs gained notoriety for their toxic effects on human health and the environment. They were found to accumulate in the fatty tissue of humans and wildlife, leading to various adverse health impacts. Due to their chemical stability, PCBs persist in the environment for long periods, becoming distributed through natural processes involving soil, water, and air.
The release of PCBs into the environment can occur through several pathways, including improper disposal of hazardous waste, landfill practices, and burning of certain wastes in incinerators. Once released, PCBs can be transported over long distances and have been detected in various environmental compartments, including snow and seawater far from their release points.
Several countries took steps to ban the production, use, and import of PCBs in the 1970s and 1980s due to growing concerns over their toxicity. The Stockholm Convention specifically lists polychlorinated biphenyls as one of the initial twelve "dirty dozen" chemicals targeted for restriction or elimination. The treaty provides a process for identifying, evaluating, and adding additional chemicals to the controlled substances list, with a focus on addressing the global threat posed by POPs to human health and ecosystems.
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Pesticides
The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants is an international environmental treaty that aims to eliminate or restrict the production and use of persistent organic pollutants (POPs). POPs are chemical substances that persist in the environment, bio-accumulate through the food web, and have adverse effects on human health and the environment.
The convention lists chemicals in three annexes: Annex A, which lists chemicals to be eliminated, Annex B, which lists chemicals to be restricted, and Annex C, which calls for minimizing unintentional production and release of listed chemicals. While the specific pesticides included in these annexes may vary over time as the convention is updated, some of the initial pesticides targeted by the Stockholm Convention include:
- Hexachlorobenzene
- Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
- Chlorinated naphthalenes (CNs)
- Hexachlorobutadiene (HCBD)
- Pentachlorophenol (PCP)
In addition to restricting and eliminating the production and use of these and other POP pesticides, the Stockholm Convention also requires parties to restrict trade in POP substances and develop national action plans to address releases of unintentionally produced POPs. The convention also emphasizes the importance of sound management and disposal of POP wastes, including those containing pesticide residues.
Overall, the Stockholm Convention plays a crucial role in regulating and reducing the use of hazardous pesticides that pose a significant threat to human health and the environment. By adopting this convention, the participating parties have committed to taking action to protect human well-being and ecological integrity on a global scale.
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Hexachlorobenzene
The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants is an international environmental treaty signed on 22 May 2001 in Stockholm, Sweden, and effective from 17 May 2004. It is a global treaty to protect human health and the environment from the harmful effects of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs).
POPs are a class of highly hazardous chemical pollutants that pose a serious, global threat to human health and ecosystems. They remain intact in the environment for exceptionally long periods, becoming widely distributed geographically and accumulating in the fatty tissue of humans and wildlife through the food web.
The Stockholm Convention lists chemicals in three annexes: Annex A, Annex B, and Annex C. Annex A lists chemicals to be eliminated, Annex B lists chemicals whose use should be restricted, and Annex C calls for minimizing unintentional production and release of listed chemicals.
The inclusion of hexachlorobenzene in the Stockholm Convention highlights the global commitment to addressing the harmful effects of this chemical. By restricting and eliminating its production and use, the treaty aims to protect human health and the environment from the adverse impacts of hexachlorobenzene and other POPs.
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Chlorinated naphthalenes
The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants is an international environmental treaty signed on May 22, 2001, in Stockholm, and effective from May 17, 2004. It aims to eliminate or restrict the production and use of persistent organic pollutants (POPs).
In 2011, a screening assessment report in Canada concluded that CNs with 2 to 8 chlorine atoms (referred to as Polychlorinated Naphthalenes or PCNs) are entering or may enter the environment in quantities or concentrations that could have harmful effects on the environment and its biodiversity. PCNs were found to persist in the environment, with some breaking down slowly through sunlight or certain microorganisms.
At the 9th meeting of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee (POPRC) in 2013, di-,tri-,tetra-,penta-,hexa-, hepta-, and octa-chlorinated naphthalenes were proposed for listing in Annexes A and C of the Stockholm Convention. Annexes A and C of the convention list chemicals targeted for elimination and minimization of unintentional production and release, respectively.
The Stockholm Convention requires parties to restrict trade in POPs and develop national action plans to address unintentional releases of these substances. It also promotes the sound management and disposal of POPs wastes. As of September 2022, there are 186 parties to the convention, including 185 states and the European Union.
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Perfluorooctane sulfonate
The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants is an international environmental treaty signed in 2001 that came into effect in 2004. It aims to eliminate or restrict the production and use of persistent organic pollutants (POPs). POPs are chemical substances that persist in the environment, bioaccumulate through the food web, and can cause adverse effects to human health and the environment.
PFOS was included in Annex B of the Stockholm Convention, which lists chemicals to be restricted. This decision was made by the Conference of the Parties in Geneva in 2009, based on the assessment that PFOS met the criteria of a POP. The inclusion of PFOS in the Stockholm Convention has been controversial due to its economic and political impact on countries and businesses.
The Stockholm Convention provides a process for identifying and evaluating new POPs, with specific criteria and a step-by-step procedure for adding chemicals to the treaty. The Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee (POPRC) plays a crucial role in this process, reviewing nominated chemicals and making recommendations. The Convention also requires parties to restrict trade in POPs and develop national action plans to address releases of unintentionally produced POPs.
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Frequently asked questions
POPs are a class of highly hazardous chemical pollutants that pose a serious, global threat to human health and ecosystems. They remain intact for long periods, are widely distributed geographically, accumulate in the fatty tissue of humans and wildlife, and have harmful impacts on human health and the environment.
The Stockholm Convention is a global treaty that aims to eliminate or restrict the production and use of POPs. The initial "Dirty Dozen" included 12 POPs, with chemicals like hexachlorobenzene and polychlorinated biphenyls. Since then, more POPs have been added, with 22 listed in Annex A and restricted in Annex B, including DDT.
Key elements include requiring developed countries to provide resources and measures to eliminate the production and use of intentionally produced POPs, minimise and eliminate unintentional POPs, and properly manage and dispose of POP waste. The treaty also requires parties to restrict trade in POP substances.
By restricting and eliminating POPs, the Convention aims to reduce the harmful impacts of these pollutants on human health. POPs can accumulate in the fatty tissue of humans, leading to adverse health effects. The treaty also calls for periodic effectiveness evaluations, such as global surveys of human milk, to ensure protection.
