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OSPAR CONVENTION FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT OF THE NORTH-EAST ATLANTIC
MEETING OF THE WORKING GROUP ON CONCENTRATIONS, TRENDS AND EFFECTS OF SUBSTANCES IN THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT (SIME)
DUBLIN: 22 – 26 FEBRUARY 1999
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Brominated flame retardants head for the Deep Sea
Presented by World Wide Fund For Nature
Background
1. Reference is made to the OSPAR List of Chemicals for Priority Action, included in the OSPAR Strategy with Regard to Hazardous Substances (SIME 99/2/info.4, Annex 2), and to the information with regard to brominated flame retardants which WWF has submitted under the framework of the Oslo and Paris Commissions (see SIME 99/2/Info.8) earlier.
2. Particular reference is made to recent findings by the Dutch research institutes NIOZ, DLO-RIVO and RWS-RIKZ concerning the occurrence and fate of brominated flame retardants - such as PBDEs and PBBs - in the North-East Atlantic marine environment and ist food chains (see Annex1). Considerable levels of these toxic, persistent and bioaccumulating chemicals have been identified in the tissue of white beaked dolphins, seals, eider duck, knot and sperm whales stranded on the Dutch coast. In this context, it is important that sperm whales exclusively feed on deep sea squid and fish.
3. In addition to earlier evidence from Baltic, Arctic and North-East Atlantic biota (cf. JANSSON et al 1993, see Annex1), these new results raise concern about the ubiquitous occurrence and bioaccumulation of toxic and persistent brominated flame retardants including the remote deep sea marine environment. There are striking parallels between the environmental fate of brominated flame retardants and PCBs.
4. WWF has repeatedly urged OSPAR Contracting Parties to adopt precautionary measures to eliminate this group of hazardous substances. OSPAR MMC has confirmed the need for priority action. Programmes and measures on priority substances must be accompanied by appropriate monitoring and assessment.
Action requested
5. As SIME is going to examine the progress regarding implementation of JAMP issue 1.12 (other synthetic organics), any new findings on synthetic organic hazardous substances should be taken into account in revising the associated work strategies.
6. In particular, this applies to compounds from the OSPAR List of Chemicals for Priority Action which are not explicitly addressed under the JAMP yet, e.g. brominated flame retardants, phthalates, chlorinated paraffins, nonylphenol ethoxylates and related substances, musc xylene.
7. SIME is therefore invited to take note of the new findings on brominated flame retardants, share WWF’s concerns and amend the work strategy as appropriate.
Annex 1
References
de BOER, J. et.al. (1998) Do flame retardants threaten ocean life? Nature 394, pp 28-29
BOON, J. P. et.al. (1997) In vitro biotransformatie van organohalogeenverbindingen in zeezoogdieren en vogels. Mogelijke gevolgen voor bioaccumulatie en genotoxiciteit. III Gebromeerde vlamvertragers (polybroom difenylethers & polybroom bifenylen). BEON Rapport nr. 97-6.
JANSSON, B. (1995) Environmental pollution with organohalogen compounds emanating from products. In GOUD, R. & UYTERLINDE, R. Report from the Workshop on products containing or generating organhalogen compounds. Diffuse Sources of Pollution. Amsterdam. RIZA Nota nr.: 95.043
JANSSON, B., ASPLUND, L. & OLSSON, M. (1987) Brominated Flame Retardants - Ubiquitous Environmental Pollutants? Chemosphere 16, 10-12, pp 2343-2349
JANSSON, B., ANDERSSON, R., ASPLUND, L., LITZEN, K., NYLUND, K., TRÖM, U., UVEMO, U.-B., WAHLBERG, C., WIDEQVIST, U., ODSJÖ, T., OLSSON, M., (1993) Chlorinated and brominated persistent organic compounds in biological samples from the environment. Environment Toxicology and Chemistry, 12, pp. 1163-1174
SEPA (in prep) Proceedings of the 18th Symposium on Halogenated Environmental Organic Pollutants (“Dioxin '98”) hosted by the Swedish Environment Protection Agency in Stockholm 17-21 August 1998
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OSPAR Commission SIME 99/4/9-E