CEP ACTIVITIES IN CONNECTION TO POPsPTS

1
CEP ACTIVITIES IN CONNECTION TO POPs/PTS

• Reza Sheikholeslami
• Technical Advisor to
• CEP-PCU

3rd (Interim) P-RAG Meeting on POPs/PTSTehran
6-8 March 2005
2
CONTENT

• CEP ACTIVITIES IN PHASE-I
• WHAT HAS BEE DONE IN PHASE-I?
• WHAT IS LACKING ?
• UPCOMING/ON GOING ACTIVITIES IN PHASE-II
• WHAT ARE THE POSITION OF POPs/PTS PROJECTS
  IN-PHASE-II

3
WHAT HAS BEEN DONE IN CONNECTION TO POP/PTS

• 1- LAND BASED POLLUTION /ACTIVITIES ASSESSMENT IN
  PHASE -1(EU/TACIS)
• 2- POPs/PTS MEASUREMENTS IN CASPIAN BOTTOM
  SEDIMENT IN PHASE-1(CEP-ASTP)
• 3- POPs/PTS MEASUREMENTS IN CASPIAN BIOTA IN
  PHASE-1(ECOTOX-WB)

4
1- LAND BASED POLLUTION /ACTIVITIES ASSESSMENT
(EU/TACIS)-WHAT WAS DONE

• ASSESSMENT WAS MADE ON THE BASIS OF EXISTING DATA
  AND INFORMATION IN THE CASPIAN COASTAL REGION
• EXISTING DATA AND INFORMATION WAS COLLECTED BY
  QUESTIONNAIRE AND LIMITED FIELD VISIT

5
1- LAND BASED POLLUTION /ACTIVITIES ASSESSMENT
(EU/TACIS)-WHAT IS LACKING

• ASSESSMENT WAS NOT TARGETED TO POPs/PTS
• IN GENERAL NO RELIABLE TRANSBOUNDARY
  CONTAMINANTS DATA SET / INFORMATION WERE
  AVAILABLE

6
2 - POPs/PTS MEASUREMENTS IN CASPIAN BOTTOM
SEDIMENT (CEP-ASTP)-WAT WAS DONE

• TARGETED TO POPs/PTS
• 105 SEDIMENT SAMPLE WERE ANALYSED FOR POPs/PTS
• ASSESSMENT OF TRANSBOUNDARY CONTAMINANT MADE ON
  THE CEP-ASTP FINDINGS

7
Total Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons

• The overall trend for total (PAHs) mimicked that
  of the PH data, with highest PAH concentrations
  observed in Azerbaijan. Here, the range of values
  was from 280 to 3000 ng g-1. A hot spot south of
  Baku Bay (H-4-1, H-5-1 BP-1) was evident.
• Concentrations were not excessive compared to
  other global sites.
• Moreover, the PAH content never exceeded the NOAA
  Sediment Quality Guideline value (ERL) of
  4000 ng g-1 dry weight.

8
Total DDTs in Sediments

• NOAA ERL is 1600 pg g-1.
• Total DDT levels exceed this quality standard at
  a number of locations, especially in Azerbaijan
  and Iran.
• The maximum value at station I-5 (13400 pg g-1)
  shows a strong signal from the Kura River.
• The lowest concentrations were found in the North
  Caspian Sea, particularly in the north-eastern
  shallow area.

9
Total DDTs and ERL(AZ)ERLEffects Range Low,
NOAA Sediment Quality Guidelines
10
Total DDTs and ERL(IRAN)ERLEffects Range Low,
NOAA Sediment Quality Guidelines
11
Lindane in Sediments

• Lowest values were found in the Iranian and
  Kazakhstan sectors.
• Several stations in the Russian coastal zone had
  elevated levels.
• The maximum concentration 609 pg g-1, exceeded
  the ISQG value of 320 pg g-1.
• As lindane degrades rapidly in the environment,
  elevated levels reflect ongoing usage.

12
Lindane and ISQG Level inRussian sector
13
Endrin in Sediments

• Low levels were found in Kazakhstan and Russia.
• Highest values were observed in the coastal zone
  of Azerbaijan (85 pg g-1) and Iran (81 pg g-1).
• Maximum concentrations did not exceed the ISQG
  value of 267 pg g-1.

14
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)

• The highest values were observed in the Russian
  sector of the Caspian Sea.
• However, it should be noted that the S PCB
  concentrations in this study are relatively low
  by global standards.
• The NOAA ERL value for S PCBs, 23 ng g-1, was
  never exceeded.

15
Aroclor 1254

• The highest values were observed in the Russian
  sector of the Caspian Sea and significantly
  differs from other the rest of the Caspian Sea.
• However, it should be noted that the Aroclor 1254
  concentrations in this study are relatively low
  by global standards.

16
Conclusions Organic Pollutants

• Petroleum hydrocarbon concentrations were quite
  high by global standards at some locations,
  notably to the south of Baku Bay.
• DDT-related compounds exhibited concentrations
  higher than NOAA ERL values at numerous locations
  in the coastal zone of Azerbaijan and Iran, but
  were quite low in the northern Caspian Sea.
• Lindane concentrations exceeded the Canadian
  sediment quality guideline value at sites in the
  Russian sector.
•  S PAHs and S PCBs never exceeded the NOAA
  Sediment Quality Guideline values of 4000 ng g-1
  and 23 ng g-1, respectively.

17
Conclusions Heavy Metals

• Generally, the concentrations of heavy metals
  co-vary with those of aluminium, reflecting the
  influences of terrigenous inputs and grain size.
• As, Cr Ni have high natural backgrounds due to
  mineralisation, but might be locally elevated due
  to mining activities.
• Ag, Cd Pb are quite low and seem to pose no
  pollution problem.
• Hg, Cu Zn have localised hot spots that reflect
  anthropogenic inputs.
• Ba and U similarly have hot spots, possibly due
  to human influences.

18
2 - POPs/PTS MEASUREMENTS IN CASPIAN
BOTTOM SEDIMENT (CEP-ASTP)-WHAT IS LACKING

• ASTP FINDINGS CAN DEFINE RELATIVELY THE
  EXISTENCE, IMPORTANCE AND GEOGRAPHICAL
  DISTRIBUTION OF CERTAIN POPs COMPOUNDS IN CASPIAN
  SEA (DDT AND PCBs), BUT CAN NOT QUANTIFY THE
  EXISTING STATUS OF CASPIAN REGION (CASPIAN
  STATES) IN TERMS OF PRODUCTION, USAGE,
  STOCKPILING CONTROL AND ETC .

19
3- POPs/PTS MEASUREMENTS IN CASPIAN BIOTA
(ECOTOX-WB)- WHAT WAS DONE

• MEASURMENTS MADE ON
• Seals
• Sturgeon
• Bony Fish
• Caspian sprat (Clupeonella caspia)
• Various gobies (Gobiidae)
• Caspian Roach (Rutilus rutilus caspicus)

20
3- POPs/PTS MEASUREMENTS IN CASPIAN BIOTA
(ECOTOX-WB)- WHAT WAS DONE
21
3- POPs/PTS MEASUREMENTS IN CASPIAN BIOTA
(ECOTOX-WB)- WHAT WAS DONE
22
3- POPs/PTS MEASUREMENTS IN CASPIAN BIOTA
(ECOTOX-WB)- WHAT WAS DONE
23
Organochlorines in Seals

• PCBs and organochlorine pesticides were detected
  in all samples of Caspian seals collected in 2000
  and 2001. In general, levels of DDTs were higher
  than those of PCBs other compounds (HCH, CHL,
  etc.) were significantly lower in concentration.
• Dioxin-related compounds (PCDD, PCDF, co-planar
  PCBs) were detected in all seals in the Caspian
  levels were lower than those in marine mammals
  from other parts of the world.

24
Bony Fish Results

• Bony fish show strong geographical dependence of
  organochlorine concentration, suggesting local
  exposure.
• Immunochemistry focused on Cytochrome P450 A1, a
  biomarker for PAHs and thus is a good sign for
  exposure to oil products. Most fish had induced
  Cytochrome, indicating exposure to oil products
  sometime in the past.

25
3 - POPs/PTS MEASUREMENTS IN CASPIAN BIOTA
(ECOTOX-WB)- WHAT IS LACKING

• THE ECTOX RESULTS WELL CORRELATE WITH ASTP
  FINDINGS, BUT AGAIN ECTOX CAN DEFINE RELATIVELY
  THE EXISTENCE, IMPORTANCE AND GEOGRAPHICAL
  DISTRIBUTION OF CERTAIN POPs COMPOUNDS IN CASPIAN
  SEA (DDT AND PCBs), BUT CAN NOT QUANTIFY THE
  EXISTING STATUS OF CASPIAN REGION (CASPIAN
  STATES) IN TERMS OF PRODUCTION, USAGE,
  STOCKPILING CONTROL AND ETC .

26
WHAT WILL BE DONE IN CEP-II IN CONNECTION TO
POPs/PTs

• 1- ACTIVITY D1LAND BASED ASSESSMENT
• 2- ACTIVITYDD2 DETERMINE THE FLUX OF MAJOR
  CONTAMINANTS FROM THE VOLGA CASCADE AND KURA
  RIVER
• 3- ACTIVITY D3 SUPPLEMENTARY WORK TO ASTP
• 4- ACTIVITY E 1REGIONAL AND NATIONAL ACTION
  PLANS ADDRESING THE ACTIVITIES CONTRIBUTING TO
  TRANSBOUNDARY PTS INCLUDING POPs, OIL PRODUCTS
  AND HEAVY METALS POLLUTION
• 5- ACTIVITY E2PILOT PROJECTS ON PESTICIDE
• 6- EU/TACIS PROJECTS IN PHASE-II

27
ACTIVITY D1LAND BASED ASSESSMENT
Expand and improve the Phase-I EU/Tacis
land-based activity assessment
28
MAJOR TASKS IN D1

• Contaminant source (point and non-point)
  assessment in coastal zone
• Contaminant sources assessment in near basin of
  Kura/Arax, Volga up to Volgograd, Sefid Rood, and
  Ural

29
MAJOR TASKS OF D1(CONT)

• quantification of hot spots within the rivers
• The activities will be worked out with the GPA
  Secretariat in The Netherlands, the POPs
  Secretariat in Geneva, and with the regional and
  national PTS and POPs assessments and enabling
  activities).

30
ACTIVITYD2 Determine the flux of major
contaminants from the Volga cascade and Kura river
The main objective of the project is to determine
the fluxes of major toxic substances( POPs/PTS )
from the Volga Cascade and Kura River into the
Caspian Sea,
31
Activity D3 Supplementary to ASTP

• As a continuation of work from the first GEF
  CEP project, further surveys of the riverine
  waters, sediments and sea waters in the Caspian
  states, including the coastal sediments off
  Turkmenistan, assessing the impact of key
  transboundary contaminants in water and sediments
  (POPs / PTs)

32
Activity E 1Regional and National Action Plans
addressing the activities contributing to
transboundary Persistent Toxic Substances (PTS)
including POPs, oil products and heavy metal
pollution

• Draft and agree, in coordination with the
  national GEF supported enabling POP activities, a
  regional Action Plan for addressing the
  activities contributing to transboundary
  POPs/PTS, including Persistent Organic Pollutants
  hydrocarbons and heavy metal pollution.TO BE
  DISCUSSED

33
Activity E2Pilot Project

• In two pilot project areas, undertake a survey
  of usage and stockpiling of pesticides, undertake
  a stakeholder education programme and demonstrate
  the use of Integrated Pest Management
  (coordinated with any national POPs Enabling
  Activity inventories to avoid duplication). TO BE
  DISCUSSED.

34
EU/TACIS PROJECTS IN PHASE-II

• POSSIBLE CONTRIBUTION OF EU/TACIS IN PHASE-II
  IN CONNECTION TO POPs/PTS IN CASPIAN SEA/REGION)
  TO BE DISCUSSED)