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Antarctica REGIONAL REPORT United Nations Environment Programme Chemicals Antarctica REGIONAL REPORT Regionally Based Assessment of Persistent Available from: UNEP Chemicals 11-13, chemin des Anémones CH-1219 Châtelaine, GE Switzerland Phone : +41 22 917 1234 Fax : +41 22 797 3460 Substances E-mail: [email protected] December 2002 http://www.chem.unep.ch UNEP Chemicals is a part of UNEP's Technology, Industry and Printed at United Nations, Geneva Economics Division GE.03-00165–January 2003–300 UNEP/CHEMICALS/2003/12 Global Environment Facility UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME CHEMICALS RReeggiioonnaallllyy BBaasseedd AAsssseessssmmeenntt ooff PPeerrssiisstteenntt TTooxxiicc SSuubbssttaanncceess AANNTTAARRCCTTIICCAA RREEGGIIOONNAALL RREEPPOORRTT DECEMBER 2002 GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT FACILITY This report was financed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) through a global project with co-financing from the Governments of Australia, France, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States of America. This publication is produced within the framework of the Inter-Organization Programme for the Sound Management of Chemicals (IOMC). This publication is intended to serve as a guide. While the information provided is believed to be accurate, UNEP disclaim any responsibility for the possible inaccuracies or omissions and consequences, which may flow from them. UNEP nor any individual involved in the preparation of this report shall be liable for any injury, loss, damage or prejudice of any kind that may be caused by any persons who have acted based on their understanding of the information contained in this publication. The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this report do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations of UNEP concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The Inter-Organization Programme for the Sound Management of Chemicals (IOMC), was established in 1995 by UNEP, ILO, FAO, WHO, UNIDO and OECD (Participating Organizations), following recommendations made by the 1992 UN Conference on Environment and Development to strengthen cooperation and increase coordination in the field of chemical safety. In January 1998, UNITAR formally joined the IOMC as a Participating Organization. The purpose of the IOMC is to promote coordination of the policies and activities pursued by the Participating Organizations, jointly or separately, to achieve the sound management of chemicals in relation to human health and the environment. Material in this publication may be freely quoted or reprinted but acknowledgement is requested together with a reference to the document. A copy of the publication containing the quotation or reprint should be sent to UNEP Chemicals. UNEP CHEMICALS Available from: UNEP Chemicals11-13, chemin des Anémones CH-1219 Châtelaine, GE Switzerland Phone: +41 22 917 1234 Fax: +41 22 797 3460 E-mail: [email protected] http://www.chem.unep.ch UNEP Chemicals is a part of UNEP’s Technology, Industry and Economics Division ii PREFACE ..........................................................................................................V EXECUTIVE SUMMARY...................................................................................VI 1 INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................1 1.1 OVERVIEW OF THE RBA PTS PROJECT ..............................................................................1 1.1.1 Objectives..................................................................................................................................................1 1.1.2 Results .......................................................................................................................................................1 1.2 METHODOLOGY ......................................................................................................................2 1.2.1 Regional divisions .....................................................................................................................................2 1.2.2 Management structure ...............................................................................................................................2 1.2.3 Data processing .........................................................................................................................................2 1.2.4 Project funding ..........................................................................................................................................3 1.3 SCOPE OF THE ANTARCTIC REGIONAL ASSESSMENT ..................................................3 1.3.1 Existing assessments .................................................................................................................................3 1.3.2 Inter-regional links and collaboration........................................................................................................4 1.3.3 Omissions and weaknesses........................................................................................................................4 1.4 METHODOLOGY ......................................................................................................................4 1.5 GENERAL DEFINITIONS OF CHEMICALS...........................................................................5 1.5.1 Persistent Toxic Substances– Pesticides....................................................................................................5 1.5.2 Persistent Toxic Substances - Industrial compounds.................................................................................8 1.5.3 Persistent Toxic Substances - Unintended by-products............................................................................9 1.5.4 Organometals...........................................................................................................................................10 1.6 DEFINITION OF THE ANTARCTIC REGION......................................................................10 1.7 PHYSICAL SETTING..............................................................................................................12 1.7.1 The terrestrial environment .....................................................................................................................13 1.7.2 The marine environment..........................................................................................................................13 1.7.3 Islands......................................................................................................................................................15 1.8 AN OUTLINE OF ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION.......................................................15 2 SOURCE CHARACTERISATION...........................................................17 2.1 INTRODUCTION .....................................................................................................................17 2.1.1 Persistent Toxic Substances – Pesticides.................................................................................................18 2.1.2 Persistent Toxic Substances - Industrial Compounds..............................................................................18 2.1.3 Persistent Toxic Substances - Unintended by-products...........................................................................19 2.1.4 Organometals...........................................................................................................................................21 2.2 SUMMARY - SOURCE CHARACTERISATION ..................................................................21 3 ENVIRONMENTAL LEVELS, TOXICOLOGICAL AND ECOTOXICOLOGICAL CHARACTERISATION ....................................22 3.1 INTRODUCTION .....................................................................................................................22 3.2 LEVELS AND TRENDS – ABIOTIC ENVIRONMENT........................................................22 3.2.1 Persistent Toxic Substances – Pesticides.................................................................................................22 3.2.2 Persistent Toxic Substances - Industrial Compounds..............................................................................27 3.2.3 Persistent Toxic Substances - Unintended by-products...........................................................................29 3.2.4 Organometals...........................................................................................................................................31 3.2.5 Overall conclusions – environmental levels and trends ..........................................................................31 3.3 LEVELS AND TRENDS – BIOTA ..........................................................................................32 3.3.1 Persistent Toxic Substances – Pesticides.................................................................................................33 3.3.2 Persistent Toxic Substances - Industrial Compounds..............................................................................43 3.3.3 Persistent Toxic Substances - Unintended by-products...........................................................................46 3.3.4 Organometals...........................................................................................................................................48 iii 3.4 TOXICOLOGY .........................................................................................................................48
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