UNITED NATIONS Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic
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UNITED NATIONS SC UNEP/POPS/POPRC.9/5 Distr.: General 9 July 2013 Original: English Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee Ninth meeting Rome, 14–18 October 2013 Item 5 (b) of the provisional agenda* Consideration of draft risk management evaluations: hexachlorobutadiene Draft risk management evaluation: hexachlorobutadiene Note by the Secretariat I. Introduction 1. At its eighth meeting, the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee adopted decision POPRC-8/2 on hexachlorobutadiene.1 By paragraph 3 of that decision, the Committee decided to establish an ad hoc working group to prepare a risk management evaluation that included an analysis of possible control measures for hexachlorobutadiene in accordance with Annex F to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. 2. A workplan for the preparation of a draft risk management evaluation was adopted by the Committee at the same meeting.2 3. In accordance with decision POPRC-8/2 and the workplan, the ad hoc working group prepared the draft risk management evaluation set out in the annex to the present note; it has not been formally edited. A compilation of comments and responses in relation to the draft risk management evaluation is set out in document UNEP/POPS/POPRC.9/INF/6. II. Possible action by the Committee 4. The Committee may wish: (a) To adopt, with any amendments, the draft risk management evaluation set out in the annex to the present note; (b) To decide, in accordance with paragraph 9 of Article 8 of the Convention, on the basis of the risk profile adopted at its eighth meeting (UNEP/POPS/POPRC.8/16/Add.2) and any subsequent amendments thereto, and the risk management evaluation, whether hexachlorobutadiene should be recommended for consideration by the Conference of the Parties for listing in Annexes A, B and/or C to the Convention. * UNEP/POPS/POPRC.9/1. 1 UNEP/POPS/POPRC.8/16, annex I. 2 UNEP/POPS/POPRC.8/16, para. 17 and annex II. K1352539 220813 UNEP/POPS/POPRC.9/5 Annex HEXACHLOROBUTADIENE DRAFT RISK MANAGEMENT EVALUATION Draft prepared by the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee ad hoc working group on hexachlorobutadiene July 2013 2 UNEP/POPS/POPRC.9/5 Table of Contents Executive summary ......................................................................................................................................................... 4 1. Introduction ......................................................................................................................................................... 5 1.1 Chemical identity of the proposed substance .................................................................................................... 5 1.2 Conclusions of the Review Committee regarding Annex E information ......................................................... 6 1.3 Data sources ............................................................................................................................................. 7 1.4 Status of the chemical under international conventions ................................................................................... 7 1.5 Any national or regional control actions taken ................................................................................................. 7 2. Summary information relevant to the risk management evaluation ........................................................................ 10 2.1 Additional relevant information on sources, releases and measures .............................................................. 10 2.2 Identification of possible control measures .................................................................................................... 14 2.3 Efficacy and efficiency of possible control measures in meeting risk reduction goals ................................. 18 2.4 Information on alternatives (products and processes) where relevant ........................................................... 19 2.5 Summary of information on impacts on society of implementing possible control measures ...................... 20 2.6 Other considerations ........................................................................................................................................ 20 3. Synthesis of information ........................................................................................................................................... 20 4. Concluding statement ............................................................................................................................................... 22 References ....................................................................................................................................................... 23 3 UNEP/POPS/POPRC.9/5 Executive summary 1. The European Community and its Member States submitted a proposal to list hexachlorobutadiene (HCBD) in Annex A, B and/or C to the Stockholm Convention pursuant to paragraph 1 of Article 8 of the Convention. The risk profile of HCBD was adopted by the eighth meeting of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee in October 2012. The Committee decided (1) that HCBD is likely, as a result of its long range environmental transport, to lead to significant adverse human health and environmental effects such that global action is warranted; (2) to prepare a risk management evaluation that includes an analysis of possible control measures for HCBD and (3) to invite parties and observers to submit to the Secretariat the information specified in Annex F before 11 January 2013, as well as additional information relevant to Annex E, in particular data on sources of emissions such as the intentional production of HCBD and/or unintentional releases. 2. HCBD is a halogenated aliphatic compound which has been used in several technical and agricultural applications e.g. as intermediate in the chemical industry or as a product. In the past it was intentionally produced and applied e.g. as a solvent (for rubber and other polymers), as a “scrubber” to recover chlorine-containing gas or to remove volatile organic components from gas, as hydraulic, heat transfer or transformer fluid, in gyroscopes, in the production of aluminium and graphite rods and as a plant protection product. HCBD is not known to be currently intentionally produced or used. To limit the possible remaining uses and to prevent re-introduction of other uses, listing of HCBD in Annex A without any specific exemptions would be the most efficient control measure for intentional sources. As a consequence, HCBD would be submitted to the provisions of Article 3 of the Convention and the requirement to eliminate its production, use, import and export. All applications seem to have ceased, though specific information on intentional production and use is lacking for the current situation and for the past 30 years. This indicates that substitution has taken place and that alternatives are available. Additional costs for eliminating the intentional production and use of HCBD are not expected. Cost increases for consumers are not expected, since the alternatives are already in use. Health and the environment could be protected and benefited from the ban of HCBD, as the re-introduction of HCBD and related risks would be prevented and any currently unidentified intentional production and use around the world should end. 3. HCBD is unintentionally formed and released from industrial processes and other sources. Relevant sources are the production of chlorinated hydrocarbons, production of magnesium, and incineration processes. Releases can be minimized by alternative production processes, improved process control, emission control measures, or by substitution of the relevant chlorinated hydrocarbons. Listing of HCBD in Annex C would subject this substance to the measures under Article 5 of the Convention, and establish the goal of continuing minimization and, where feasible, ultimate elimination of HCBD releases. This would include an obligation to promote best available techniques (BAT) and best environmental practices (BEP) for HCBD sources. Cost efficient BAT and BEP to reduce releases of unintentionally produced HCBD are available and described in relevant documents. Countries already have obligations to implement control measures for other unintentionally produced persistent organic pollutants (POPs) (hexachlorobenzene (HCB), pentachlorobenzene (PeCB), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans PCDD/PCDF) under the Convention. These will be similar to those for HCBD. Emissive uses of perchloroethylene, trichloroethylene, and carbon tetrachloride have been phased out in several applications; for the remaining industrial uses, processes have been improved in a way that less product is consumed in the process and the production volumes of perchloroethylene, trichloroethylene, and carbon tetrachloride are declining in numerous signature states to relevant Conventions1. Furthermore, since technically feasible and cost- effective alternatives for specific uses of perchloroethylene, trichloroethylene, and carbon tetrachloride are available for certain applications, the unintentional generation of HCBD can be reduced by substituting chlorinated solvents by alternatives. Alternatives exist and are in practice in specific applications. This demonstrates that measures to reduce unintentional releases of HCBD through listing in Annex C would positively impact