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UNEP/CHWDRAFT
Draft technical guidelines for environmentally sound management of wastes consisting of, containing or contaminated with dicholorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT)
10 March 2005
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UNEP/CHW
Table of contents
I. Introduction 4
A. Scope 4
B. Description, production, use and wastes 4
1. Description 4
2. Production 5
3. Use 6
4. Wastes 7
II. Relevant provisions of the Basel and Stockholm Conventions 8
A. Basel Convention 8
B. Stockholm Convention 9
III. Issues under the Stockholm Convention to be addressed cooperatively with the Basel Convention 11
A. Low POP content 11
B. Levels of destruction and irreversible transformation 11
C. Methods that constitute environmentally sound disposal 11
IV. Guidance on environmentally sound management (ESM) 11
A. General considerations 11
1. Basel Convention 11
2. Stockholm Convention 11
3. Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development 11
B. Legislative and regulatory framework 11
C. Waste prevention and minimization 12
D. Identification and inventories 12
1. Identification 12
2. Inventories 13
E. Sampling, analysis and monitoring 13
1. Sampling 13
2. Analysis 14
3. Monitoring 15
F. Handling, collection, packaging, labelling, transportation and storage 15
1. Handling 15
2. Collection 16
3. Packaging 16
4. Labelling 16
5. Transportation 16
6. Storage 17
G. Environmentally sound disposal 17
1. Pretreatment 17
2. Destruction and irreversible transformation methods 17
3. Other disposal methods when destruction or irreversible transformation
does not represent the environmentally preferable option 17
4. Other disposal methods when the POP content is low 17
H. Remediation of contaminated sites 17
I. Health and safety 17
1. High-volume, high-concentration or high-risk situations 17
2. Low-volume, low-concentration sites or low-risk situations 18
J. Emergency response 19
K. Public participation 19
Annexes
I. Synonyms and trade names for DDT 20
II. Bibliography 21
Abbreviations and acronyms
ABS acrylonitrile butadiene styrene
ESM environmentally sound management
DDT Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane
DE Destruction efficiency
DRE Destruction removal efficiency
GC gas chromatography
HASP health and safety plan
IPCS International Programme on Chemical Safety
MS mass spectrometry
PBB polybrominated biphenyl
PCB polychlorinated biphenyl
PCDD polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin
PCDF polychlorinated dibenzofuran
PCT polychlorinated terphenyl
POP persistent organic pollutant
TEQ toxic equivalent UNECE United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
UNEP United Nations Environment Programme
Units of measurement
gal gallon
l litre
kg kilogram
mg milligram
ng nanogram
Nm3 normal cubic metre refers to dry gas volume measured at 0 oC and 1 atmosphere of pressure (273.15 oK and 101.3kPa).
Rm3 reference cubic metre refers to dry gas volume measured at 25 oC and 1 atmosphere of pressure (298.15 oK and 101.3kPa).
kPa kilopascal
kW kilowatt
kWh kilowatt-hours
MJ megajoule
mg/kg: Milligram(s) per kilogram. A measure of the concentration of an analyte in a given solid medium. Corresponds to parts per million (ppm) by weight.
μg/kg: Microgram(s) per kilogram. A measure of the concentration of an analyte in a given solid medium. Corresponds to parts per billion (ppb) by weight.
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UNEP/CHW
I. Introduction
A. Scope
1. These technical guidelines provide guidance for the environmentally sound management (ESM) of wastes consisting of, containing or contaminated with dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) in accordance with decisions V/8, VI/23 and VII/13 of the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, decisions OEWG-I/4, OEWG-II/10 and OEWG-III/8 of the Open-ended Working Group of the Basel Convention, and taking into account decisions INC-6/5 and INC-7/6 of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for an International Legally Binding Instrument for Persistent Organic Pollutants. The Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants will consider these guidelines in accordance with article 6.2 of that convention.
2. Along with DDT, these Technical Guidelines addresses containers, contaminated soil and other equipments or wastes that could be in contact or use with DDT as a class or category of substances owing to similarities acquired by the contamination or contact in the physico-chemical and toxicological properties of these substances. Topics addressed include conformation of inventories for purposes of identification, stock and waste management in the warehouses, and finally treatment and disposal techniques.
3. This document should be used in conjunction with the General Technical Guidelines for Environmentally Sound Management of Wastes Consisting of, Containing or Contaminated with Persistent Organic Pollutants (General Technical Guidelines). This document provides more detailed information on the nature and occurrence of wastes consisting of, containing or contaminated with DDT for purposes of their identification and management.
B. Description, production, use and wastes
1. Description
4. The dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane commonly known as DDT is a group of halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons (Tomes Plus System From Micromedex). The substance DDT was synthesized by Zeidler in Switzerland for first time in 1874, it does not occur naturally in the environment, its pesticides properties were recognized until 1939 by Paul Muller.
5. DDT’s molecular structure indicates that it is a chemically stable substance and therefore persistent, due to the delocalization mainly of the electronic cloud on the benzenes rings, in which participates too the electronic cloud of chlorine atoms. Due to thr aromatics characteristics and charge distribution, this molecule is soluble in non-polar dissolvents and fat (lipophylice); therefore it can bioaccumulates and biomagnify[1], as many studies have shown that it is causative of adverse effects to medium and long term. The molecular structure is shown as follows:
2. Use
6. DDT was the first of the chlorinated organic insecticides that came into wide commercial usage during Second World War as a pesticide against mosquitoes for the prevention of malaria, yellow fever, and control of tsetse flies (Tomes Plus System From Micromedex). It has also been used as an insecticide on crops, including tobacco and cotton. If released to the terrestrial compartment, it will adsorb very strongly to soil and be subject to evaporation and photo oxidation near the surface. It will not hydrolyze and will not significantly biodegrade in most waters. If released to the air it will be subject to direct photo degradation and reaction with photo chemically produced hydroxyl radicals. DDT was regarded as an ideal pesticide[2] because it was toxic to a wide range of insects but it was relatively harmless to mammals, fish, and plants, particularly in comparison to other pesticides commonly used at the time, such as lead arsenate.
7. DDT was banned by most developed countries during the 1970’s due to its damaging effects on the environment and the human health. However, DDT is still used today under restrictions for vector control to prevent malaria transmission and for controlling epidemics in some countries
3. Production
8. The early popularity of DDT, was due to its reasonable cost, effectiveness, persistence, and versatility (EPA, 1975). In the U.S during the 30 years prior to its cancellation, a total of approximately 1,350,000,000 pounds of DDT was used domestically. After 1959, DDT usage. declined greatly, dropping from a peak of approximately 80 million pounds in that year to just under 12 million pounds in the early 1970s. The decline in DDT usage was the result of (1) increased insect resistance; (2) the development of more effective alternative pesticides; (3) growing public concern over adverse environmental side effects; and (4) increasing government restrictions on DDT use. In addition to domestic consumption, large quantities of DDT have been purchased by the Agency for International Development and the United Nations and exported for malaria control. DDT exports increased from 12 percent of the total production in 1950 to 67 percent in 1969. However, exports have shown a marked decrease in recent years dropping from approximately 70 million pounds in 1970 to 35 million in 1972.
9. Prominent trade names of DDT products include those listed below. (See Annexx I for a more detailed list of DDT trade names and synonyms and section IV.D of the present report for considerations regarding precautions to take when using trade names in inventory exercises.)
Agritan
Anofex
Arkotine
Azotox
Bosan supra
Bovidermol
Chlorophenothan
Dedelo
Deoval
4. Wastes
10. Obsolete pesticide stocks included DDT are present in the majority of developing countries and countries in transition (FAO 1999). Quantities in individual countries range from a few tonnes to several thousands. In 1994, FAO conducted an inventory of obsolete pesticide stocks in Africa and the Near East. Results of this inventory indicated that the total volume of obsolete pesticides in Africa probably exceeds 15000 tonnes. In 1993, at least three Asian countries were known to have quantities of obsolete pesticides within the range of 5000 to 10000 tonnes each. Unconfirmed figures from eastern European countries suggest that several of these countries hold very large quantities. The total in non-OECD countries may be well in excess of 100000 tonnes. In addition, there are large quantities of heavily contaminated soil and thousands of contaminated empty containers that must be regarded as hazardous waste. In many cases, the contaminated soil needs to be treated in the same manner as the obsolete pesticides. Common types of obsolete pesticides include organochlorine compounds such as DDT, dieldrin and HCH, which have been withdrawn or banned for public health and/or environmental reasons. Countries in the migratory locust zone often still have large quantities of these compounds remaining from old strategic stocks for locust control. Several of these stocks were acquired over 20 years ago. Another large group is organophosphates and carbamates that have deteriorated as a result of prolonged or improper storage. In many cases, obsolete pesticides are stored under conditions that do not meet basic standards for safe and responsible storage of such hazardous materials.
II. Relevant provisions of the Basel and Stockholm Conventions
A. Basel Convention
11. Article 1 (“Scope of Convention”) outlines the waste types subject to the Basel Convention. Article 1 paragraph 1(a) of the Basel Convention contains a two-step process for determining if a “waste” is a “hazardous waste” subject to the Convention. First, the waste must belong to any category contained in Annex I to the Convention (“Categories of Wastes to be Controlled”). Second, the waste must possess at least one of the characteristics listed in Annex III to the Convention (“List of Hazardous Characteristics”).
12. Annex I lists some of the wastes that may consist of, contain or be contaminated with DDT. These include:
Y4 Wastes from the production, formulation and use of biocides and phytopharmaceuticals
Y14 Waste chemical substances arising from research and development or teaching activities which are not identified and/or are new and whose effects on man and/or the environment are not known
Y18 Residues arising from industrial waste disposal operations
Y39 Phenols; phenol compounds including chlorophenol
Y45 Organohalogen compounds other than substances referred to in this Annex (e.g. Y39, Y41, Y42, Y43, Y44)
13. Wastes contained in Annex I are presumed to exhibit an Annex III hazardous characteristic – for example H11 “Toxic (Delayed or Chronic)”; H12 “Ecotoxic”; or H6.1 “Poisonous (Acute)” – unless, through “national tests”, they can be shown to not exhibit the characteristics. National tests may be useful for a particular hazard characteristic in Annex III until such time as the hazardous characteristic is fully defined. Guidance papers for each Annex III hazardous characteristic are currently being developed under the Basel Convention.
14. List A of Annex VIII describes wastes that are “characterized as hazardous under article1 paragraph 1(a)” although “Designation of a waste on Annex VIII does not preclude the use of Annex III (hazard characteristics) to demonstrate that a waste is not hazardous.” List B of Annex IX lists wastes that will not be wastes covered by article 1 paragraph 1(a), unless they contain Annex I material to an extent causing them to exhibit an Annex III characteristic. In particular, the following Annex VIII wastes are applicable to DDT:
A4030 Wastes from the production, formulation and use of biocides and phytopharmaceuticals, including waste pesticides and herbicides which are off-specification, outdated,[3] or unfit for their originally intended use
A4100 Wastes from industrial pollution control devices for cleaning of industrial off-gases but excluding such wastes specified on list B
A4130 Waste packages and containers containing Annex I substances in concentrations sufficient to exhibit Annex III hazard characteristics
A4140 Wastes consisting of or containing off-specification or outdated chemicals corresponding to Annex I categories and exhibiting Annex III hazard characteristics
A4150 Waste chemical substances arising from research and development or teaching activities which are not identified and/or are new and whose effects on human health and/or the environment are not known
A4160 Spent activated carbon not included on list B (note the related entry on list B B2060)
15. For further information please refer to section II.A of the General Technical Guidelines.
B. Stockholm Convention
16. The Stockholm Convention differentiates between two categories of POPs:
(a) (a) Intentionally produced POPs whose production and use are to be eliminated or disposed of in accordance with the provisions of Annex A and/or restricted according with the provisions of Annex B
(b) (b) Unintentionally produced POPs listed in Annex C, for which Parties are required to take specified measures to reduce total releases derived from anthropogenic sources “with the goal of their continuing minimization and, where feasible, ultimate elimination”.
17. Annex B Restriction, Part I (“DDT (1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)ethane)”), outlines specific requirements with respect to DDT, as follows:
Notes:
(i) Except as otherwise specified in this Convention, quantities of a chemical occurring as unintentional trace contaminants in products and articles shall not be considered to be listed in this Annex;
(ii) This note shall not be considered as a production and use acceptable purpose or specific exemption for purposes of paragraph 2 of Article 3. Quantities of a chemical occurring as constituents of articles manufactured or already in use before or on the date of entry into force of the relevant obligation with respect to that chemical, shall not be considered as listed in this Annex, provided that a Party has notified the Secretariat that a particular type of article remains in use within that Party. The Secretariat shall make such notifications publicly available;