POPs in environment and
human bodies
Ivaylo Hlebarov
Environmental Association “Za Zemiata”
(For the Earth)/CEE Bankwatch Network Bulgaria
Case study about free-chicken eggs contaminated
with POPs
EPHA Capacity Building Workshop on Environment and Health
Sofia, 1-2 December 2005
Contents
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What are POPs?
Results from testing for toxic chemicals of free-range
chicken eggs (hot spot check)
Overview on NIP regarding POPs
Main concerns for CEE countries
EPHA Capacity Building Workshop on Environment and Health
Sofia, 1-2 December 2005
What are POPs
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Hazardous substances produced by human activities
Intentionally produced – pesticides, chemicals
Unintentionally produced – in chemical processes,
combustion processes (waste incineration), others
Persistent, bio-accumulative, trans-boundary issue
Extremely small concentrations could cause immune
disruptions, cancer or other diseases
Global threat
EPHA Capacity Building Workshop on Environment and Health
Sofia, 1-2 December 2005
Why did we do the testing?
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Local people fighting the NHWC since 2001
Already heavily industrialised and polluted
To show real data not estimations
To push for transparency and better health
care for the local people
To support IPEN initiative in regard POPs
and Stockholm Convention
EPHA Capacity Building Workshop on Environment and Health
Sofia, 1-2 December 2005
How did we make it and what are
the results?
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Location of the spot
Eggs collection in January 2005 and analysis
in laboratory
Preparing the report and presenting it
Results.........
EPHA Capacity Building Workshop on Environment and Health
Sofia, 1-2 December 2005
Results
Measured levels of POPs in eggs collected in Kovachevo
near Stara Zagora (Bulgaria) per gram of fat
PCDD/ Fs i n WHOTEQ ( pg/ g)
PCBs i n WHO- TEQ
( pg/ g)
Tot al WHO- TEQ
( pg/ g)
PCB ( 7 c ongener s )
( ng/ g)
HCB ( ng/ g)
Meas ur ed Li mi t s
l ev el
64. 54
3. 0 a
Ac t i on
l ev el
2. 0 b
5. 03
2. 0 b
1. 5 b
69. 57
5. 0 b
-
3. 04
200 c
-
25. 50
200 d
-
EPHA Capacity Building Workshop on Environment and Health
Sofia, 1-2 December 2005
Results II
Measured levels of POPs in eggs collected in Kovachevo
near Stara Zagora (Bulgaria) per gram of fresh weight
PCDD/ Fs
i
TEQ ( pg/ g)
PCBs
in
( pg/ g)
Tot al
( pg/ g)
PCBs
c ongener s )
HCB ( ng/ g)
n
Meas ur ed Li mi t s
l ev el
WHO7. 81
1a
Ac t i on
l ev el
-
WHO- TEQ
0. 61
-
-
WHO- TEQ
8. 42
-
-
(7
( ng/ g)
0. 37
-
-
3. 09
EPHA Capacity Building Workshop on Environment and Health
Sofia, 1-2 December 2005
Potential sources of pollutants
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Thermal power plant 4 km away
Briquettes factory 15 km away
Heating boiler occasionally used to burn old
tires
Local heating sources
Household landfill in Radnevo
Abandoned chemical plant – Agrobiochim 60
km away
EPHA Capacity Building Workshop on Environment and Health
Sofia, 1-2 December 2005
Comparison with other results
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Results are the second highest among 18
countries – IPEN
Data showed Stara Zagora region most
polluted
Pol l ut ant
PAH t / y
PCB' s k g/ y
DI OX g/ y
Ther mal Power
Pl ant ( TPP) 1 TPP 2 TPP 3
0, 0547 0, 3512 0, 1641
3, 0753 19, 4329 9, 0436
7, 4661 47, 3279 21, 9545
EPHA Capacity Building Workshop on Environment and Health
Sofia, 1-2 December 2005
Overview of POPs National
Implementation Plan
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Pilot project financed by UNDP – had to end
in June 2005
Inventories on pesticides, POPs in
emissions, PCBs inventory, action plan etc.
Main emitters dioxin/furans – energy
production – 49% - 218.478 g/y, PCB –
250.056 kg/y, HCB – 38.28 kg/y
EPHA Capacity Building Workshop on Environment and Health
Sofia, 1-2 December 2005
Overview of NIP II
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Level of dioxins in breast milk -WHO coordinated
exposure study 2003 – 19 countries - 30 women
POPs
Bankya
PCDD/ Fs i n WHO5. 08
TEQ ( pg/ g)
Tot al WHO- TEQ
8. 82
( pg/ g) PCDD/ Fs +PCB
Sof i a
Bl agoevgr ad
6. 14
7. 11
10. 35
11. 81
EPHA Capacity Building Workshop on Environment and Health
Sofia, 1-2 December 2005
General conclusions in NIP as
regard POPs emissions
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No monitoring system for PCDD/F (in water also), PCB,
HCB in air, no laboratory
No major changes in emissions - energy production
Increased use of coal and wood in households in 2002 lead
to increase PCDD/F and PCBs. (14,5 g/y more, 32 kg/y
more)
The measured levels of chemicals in breast milk are lower
than in EU??
EPHA Capacity Building Workshop on Environment and Health
Sofia, 1-2 December 2005
Recommendations in NIP
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Regular inventories
Use of BAT in energy, chemical and metallurgic industry
Use of BAT in household waste incineration, cement kiln
(haz.), no non-combustion alternatives?
Use of energy efficiency, natural gas, etc.
Conduction of representative analysis of people's health in
regard presence and accumulation of PCDD/F and HCB in
human body
NGO involvement only in information campaigns?
EPHA Capacity Building Workshop on Environment and Health
Sofia, 1-2 December 2005
Main concerns for CEE countries
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Potential for increased POPs generation - incineration
Old chemical plants – operational and non-operational
Obsolete pesticides stockpiles, use of prohibited substances
Increased road transport
Lack of adequate measurements especially in regard to
human health and POPs
Political decision - making
NGO involvement – lack of it and/or limited capacity,
obstructions from the officials
EPHA Capacity Building Workshop on Environment and Health
Sofia, 1-2 December 2005
Thank you for your attention
Ivaylo Hlebarov
CEE Bankwatch Network Coordinator for Bulgaria
EA “Za Zemiata” (For the Earth)/CEE Bankwatch
Network
e-mail: [email protected]
www.zazemiata.org
EPHA Capacity Building Workshop on Environment and Health
Sofia, 1-2 December 2005