Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)

Persistent organic pollutants or POPs are chemical substances which can be transported across international boundaries through the environment far from their sources. They can persist in the environment, bio accumulate through the food web and pose a risk to human health and the environment. The EPA is the competent authority for the implementation of EC Regulation 850/2004 on persistent organic pollutants. The POPs covered under this Regulation can be sub-divided into three main categories:-

1. Pesticides e.g. DDT
2. Industrial Chemicals e.g. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
3. Unintentional by products e.g. Dioxins, furans

While the risk level varies from POP to POP, by definition all of these chemicals share four properties:-

1. They are highly toxic
2. They are persistent, lasting for years or even decades before degrading into less dangerous forms
3. They evaporate and travel long distances through the air and through water and
4. They accumulate in fatty tissue

This POPs Regulation covers obligations under the Stockholm Convention on POPs and also the Convention on Long Range Transboundary Air Pollution. The EPA is actively involved with other bodies and organisations who undertake POPs related work to ensure that POPs issues are dealt with on a national basis.

The EPA is currently working to address the requirements of the POPs Regulation in particular the preparation of a national implementation plan and action plan.

National Implementation Plan (NIP)

The purpose of the NIP is to outline how Ireland will manage POPs and will consider historical uses of POPs in Ireland, monitoring of POPs in the environment and issues that may arise from the use or generation of POPs in the future.

Examples of NIPs from countries that have ratified the Stockholm Convention can be downloaded from the link below.

The EPA is working on the preparation of a draft national implementation plan. Once completed this draft will be made available for public consultation. In June 2008 the EPA prepared a short consultation paper to provide interested parties with more information on the proposed NIP. Written representations in relation to this consultation paper were invited up to 28th of July 2008.

Polychlorinated Bi-phenyls (PCBs)

PCBs are part of the POPs group of chemicals. They are extremely stable compounds with excellent heat and electrical transfer properties. These characteristics led them to being used in a variety of industrial, commercial and domestic applications such as transformers, capacitors, hydraulic oils, lubricating oils, paints, pumps amongst others. Concern over the toxicity and persistence of PCBs led to the restrictions on the marketing and use of PCBs in the 1970s and 1980s. However, PCBs remain in some old equipment and plants throughout the country.

National Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB Inventory)

The EPA prepared a National inventory of PCB holdings and a Management Plan for PCBs in 2002. The EPA is currently updating the National Inventory of PCB Holdings for the Republic of Ireland. PCBs are chemical substances that have been commercially produced and sold as pure oil or in equivalent form from around 1929. Please read the PCB Information Leaflet to find out what type of equipment PCBs may be contained in (for example transformers, capacitors, power factory correction units and old fluroescent lighting units etc.). If you think that PCBs may be present on your site, please complete the PCB Inventory Survey and return to the address provided.

Please note that all holders of PCBs, used PCBs or PCB contaminated equipment are legally obliged to notify the EPA of their possession of these items.

If you currently have PCBs in equipment on your site or have PCB wastes on your site, there are certain obligations you must meet. Please refer to the PCB Management Plan or contact the EPA at the details below.

Dioxins

Dioxins are another group of POPs chemicals that arise mainly as un-intentional by-products of incomplete combustion and from chemical processes. An EPA research report estimated that greater than 70% of dioxins are generated from uncontrolled combustion processes.

The EPA undertake monitoring of dioxins in the Irish environment and also include dioxin monitoring as part of the licensing requirements for certain industrial sectors.

For more information on dioxin monitoring, please see the Links and Downloads section below.

Other sources of information

Examples of other bodies and organisations who undertake POPs related work include the following;

Contact Details

Office of Climate, Licensing and Resource Use
P.O. Box 3000
Johnstown Castle Estate
Wexford

Tel: 00353 (53) 9160600
Fax: 00353 (53) 9160699
E-mail: pops@epa.ie
Website: www.epa.ie

Links and Downloads

Find out about Regulation EC 850/2004 on POPs

Learn more about the Stockholm Convention

Read about the PCB Management Plan

Download National Implementation Plans for POPs

Learn more about Pollutant Emission Inventories

Download EPA Dioxin Monitoring Reports

Download EPA Dioxin Inventory

Download EPA National Hazardous Waste Management Plan