Polychlorinated dibenzofurans discharge

In 1997, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Governing Council decided that immediate international action should be taken to protect human health and the environment. International negotiations to reduce and eliminate the emission and discharges of an initial set of 12 POPs were initiated at the Stockholm Convention on POPs in May 2001. The 12 substances that were addressed at the Stockholm Convention were aldrin, endrin, dieldrin, dichlorodiphenyltrichoroethanes (DDTs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), chlordane, toxaphene, heptachlor, hex-achlorobenzene (HCB) and mirex. Basic information and status of major organochlorine pesticides in China are summarized in Table 8.1. 

In 1998, the Aarhus Protocol on POPs, which entered into force on 23 October 2003, presently has 29 Parties (February 2010). The Protocol s ultimate objective is to eliminate any discharges, emissions and losses of POPs. The Protocol bans production and use of some products right away other POPs are scheduled for elimination at a later stage or severely restricted in use. The Protocol obliges Parties to reduce their emissions of polychlorinated-p-dioxins (PCDD), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDF), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), and hexachlorobenzene (HCB) below their levels in 1990 (or an alternative year between 1985 and 1995) [29]. 

Kuehl DW, Butterworth BC, DeVita WM, et al. 1987a. Environmental contamination by polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans associated with pulp and paper mill discharge. Biomed Environ Mass Spectrom 14 443-447. 

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